Yes, it will delay us, but democracy isn’t meant to be fast – Kwasi Prempeh on Constitution Review

Prof H. Kwasi Prempeh, Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, has defended the need for wider public deliberation in Ghana's constitutional review process, emphasizing that while it may slow progress, democracy and constitution-making are not meant to be swift. Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Prof Prempeh stressed that constitutions are fundamentally different from ordinary politics as they are designed to outlive governments, parties, and leaders, setting foundational rules for governance, power distribution, and leadership recruitment that transcend political cycles.

He urged political leaders to approach the exercise with patriotism rather than partisan interests, urging them to think beyond their tenure and consider the legacy they leave for future generations. Despite acknowledging that politics cannot be fully separated from the review process, Prof Prempeh argued that extensive debate and public participation are crucial to producing legitimate reforms.

He admitted that the process has lost valuable time but insisted that the remaining period should be used to maximize public deliberation instead of accelerating the timeline. While he understood the desire to align a potential referendum with upcoming local government elections to boost voter turnout, he emphasized that the trade-off is necessary in democratic constitution-making to improve the legitimacy and outcome of the process.