NPP rejects current constitutional review process, demands Consultative Assembly

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected the current method for revising Ghana's 1992 Constitution and is advocating for the creation of a Consultative Assembly to deliberate on the proposed changes. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, a Member of Parliament representing Ofoase-Ayirebi, stated that the scope of the proposed reforms surpasses what should be considered as routine amendments under Chapter 25 of the Constitution.

During a press conference on Thursday, September 17, 2026, he affirmed that the NPP would oppose the proposed amendments in Parliament and engage in a referendum campaign against them. Nkrumah acknowledged that the 1992 Constitution contains provisions that could be enhanced to bolster accountability, decentralization, and public institutions.

However, he argued that the breadth of the proposed proposals constitutes a fundamental overhaul of the constitutional framework. The Constitution Review Committee's report includes 206 proposals, consisting of 147 amendments to existing provisions and 59 entirely new provisions. These proposals impact significant governance areas, including the Executive, Parliament, the Judiciary, independent constitutional bodies, and local government.

Nkrumah contended that the proposed changes should not be processed solely through Parliament and a referendum due to their magnitude. He also criticized the government for deviating from many of the recommendations made by the Constitution Review Committee, alleging that the government substituted its own preferences for many of the committee's suggestions.

The government, on the other hand, claimed that the Constitution Review Committee conducted extensive consultations, including interactions with over 21,500 individuals, ten thematic stakeholder engagements involving more than 500 experts, and the consideration of 785 written submissions. Additionally, the government established an 11-member Constitution Review Implementation Committee to examine its position paper alongside the Constitution Review Committee's report and develop a framework for implementing the proposals.

Nkrumah recommended that a change of such magnitude should follow the established processes used in Ghana's constitutional revisions in 1969, 1979, and 1992, which involved an expert body deliberating and settling upon proposals by a broad and representative assembly before they were legally enacted.