Prof. Prempeh calls for consensus on constitutional reforms

The Chairman of Ghana's Constitutional Review Committee, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has urged political leaders, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to reach a unified stance to ensure the successful execution of Ghana's ongoing constitutional reform process. He highlighted the risk of weakening the country's constitutional framework if the reforms were influenced by political motivations or partisan interests.

Prof. Prempeh acknowledged the importance of various viewpoints expressed by stakeholders after the committee's report and the government's White Paper were released. During a national stakeholder dialogue in Accra, he emphasized the need for consensus to reflect the broad national interests. He clarified that the Committee's recommendations were designed as an interconnected system to rectify loopholes within the current Constitution, which has been in place for three decades.

Prof. Prempeh warned that neglecting the opposing viewpoints to cater to political popularity could result in a weaker constitutional framework. He warned that the next phase of the process should not merely involve drafting but should instead craft a comprehensive plan. He cautioned that a lack of consensus could set a detrimental precedent for future constitutional review processes.

Prof. Prempeh proposed the inclusion of a constitutional requirement for regular reviews to prevent future reviews from relying solely on the goodwill of a particular administration. He also encouraged the government to maintain transparency by publishing draft bills prior to finalization and allowing public review and feedback.

Further, he urged stakeholders to explicitly state their support for the recommendations and raise critical questions to guide the reform process. Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, representing the African Union's efforts to suppress armed conflict, participated in the dialogue virtually. He stressed that such constitutional reforms must gain broad national ownership and legitimacy.

He advocated for a clear roadmap for the reform process and the necessity of securing adequate funding. Dr. Chambas emphasized that the process's success depended on all stakeholders placing the nation's long-term interests above short-term political considerations. The stakeholders unanimously agreed on the importance of maintaining openness and transparency throughout the reform process via ongoing dialogue, consultation, and public participation.