Ghana constitutional reform disputes

In Ghana, the constitutional reform process has faced criticism from labor and civil society groups following the government’s decision to reject 54% of recommendations from the Constitution Review Committee. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) expressed concern that the government might “cherry-pick issues,” potentially leading to a referendum that favors presidential preferences over public input. A primary point of contention is the proposal to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years. While the government has accepted this extension to facilitate policy implementation, the TUC opposes it, arguing that longer terms could extend the impact of misgovernance. Simultaneously, the Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR) has also rejected the term extension, advocating instead for reforms that limit executive power and enhance accountability. The CPCR is pushing for a clear separation of powers, including a ban on Members of Parliament serving as Ministers, and is calling for a Constitutional Reform Implementation and Roadmap Act to ensure reforms are legally binding and protected from future political changes. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has now formally rejected the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s approach to amending the 1992 Constitution. The NPP argues that the proposal to amend 147 of the 299 existing articles and add 59 new provisions constitutes a “fundamental overhaul” rather than routine amendments. Joining the TUC and CPCR in opposition to the five-year term extension, the NPP maintains that the current four-year cycle is essential for democratic accountability. The party has demanded the establishment of a representative Constituent Assembly to build national consensus, accusing the government of substituting its own preferences for approximately 68 percent of the independent Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations.