Ghana needs a law to sustain constitutional reforms – CDD-Ghana

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is urging the enactment of legislation to oversee the implementation of proposed constitutional reforms, ensuring the process maintains continuity despite shifts in government. This demand emerged from a coalition of over 100 civil society organisations involved in the ongoing constitutional review process.

In a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Vera Abena Addo, CDD-Ghana's Programmes Officer for Elections, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, highlighted the necessity of a clear constitutional reform implementation roadmap, backed by law, to guide how recommendations should be considered and executed over the coming years. The roadmap is crucial as the process may be disrupted by elections, campaigns, or a change in government.

Addo emphasized the importance of such a roadmap to prevent interruptions to the reform process, pointing out that Ghana has previously attempted constitutional reforms, and the country cannot afford to restart the process due to changes in political leadership. The coalition argues that an agreed legal framework could ensure the reform process continues irrespective of government changes over the next five to ten years.

CDD-Ghana proposes that the proposed law should clearly identify reforms that can be implemented immediately and those that necessitate further negotiations and consensus-building. While stakeholders, including the NPP, TUC, and civil society groups, may disagree on specific proposals and implementation processes, there is a consensus on the need for an inclusive and credible reform process.

The coalition urges the Constitution Review Implementation Committee to facilitate further consensus-building, recognizing the momentum that should not be lost.