Ghanaian civil society calls for legal roadmap for constitutional reforms

Civil society organizations in Ghana are calling for a legally binding roadmap to guide the implementation of proposed constitutional reforms. The Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR) and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) argue that such legislation is necessary to ensure the reform process is not abandoned due to changes in political leadership or election cycles.

Prof. Akosua Keseboa Darkwah of the CPCR emphasized that the implementation process should have the force of law to prevent it from becoming merely a statement of good intentions. She cited previous failed attempts, such as the 2012 implementation committee and the 2019 local government reform efforts, as evidence that without clear rules and firm timelines, promising reforms can lose momentum.

Similarly, CDD-Ghana expressed concerns that upcoming events, including a proposed referendum in 2027 and the 2028 general elections, could disrupt the continuity of the review. Vera Abena Addo of CDD-Ghana suggested that a dedicated Act should identify which reforms can be implemented immediately and which require further consensus-building, providing a stable framework that persists regardless of changes in government.