Constitutional reforms would be fitting 70th Independence anniversary gift – CDD-Ghana

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called for constitutional reforms ahead of Ghana's 70th Independence Anniversary in 2027. Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, CDD-Ghana's Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships, believes the milestone presents an opportunity to strengthen the country's constitutional framework and address governance system weaknesses.

Speaking on JoyNews' The Law, Dr Asante emphasized that Ghana has a unique chance to improve the 1992 Constitution, which has guided the nation for more than three decades. He stated that citizens from diverse backgrounds are increasingly demanding changes to the political and governance arrangements as the current system fails to meet their development expectations.

Dr Asante noted that the interest in constitutional reform is not limited to civil society organizations; young people are also expressing concerns about the governance system. CDD-Ghana has established youth platforms to engage secondary school students across the country in discussions about constitutional reform.

More than 100 civil society leaders and organizations have united under the Citizens Platform for Constitutional Reform, indicating a broad desire for change. Dr Asante stressed that the country should utilize the ongoing constitutional review process to make substantial changes instead of overlooking fundamental weaknesses.

He stressed the need to approach the reform process cautiously to ensure that citizens' concerns are adequately addressed. "If we want to do this, we should do it well and not just step over the cracks," he added. The Citizens Platform for Constitutional Reform aims to broaden public participation in discussions about changes to Ghana's constitutional and governance arrangements.