A Constitutional law expert, Professor Kofi Quashigah, has cautioned against wholesale constitutional reforms.
He said sweeping changes could prove legally impracticable and destabilising.
He explained that the stringent requirements under Article 290 made such reforms difficult to achieve, particularly within limited political timelines.
Dialogue
Prof. Quashigah gave the caution at a policy dialogue organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) in Accra.
“Wholesale constitutional reform is not feasible under the current constitutional framework, particularly due to the strict provisions governing amendments,” he stated.
The event, held on the theme “Towards Effective Constitutional Amendment: The Necessity of Legal and Institutional Safeguards,” was organised by IDEG in collaboration with Oxfam.
It brought together legal scholars, policy analysts, political party representatives, civil society organisations and youth leaders.
Amendments
Prof. Quashigah acknowledged that amendments to non-entrenched provisions may be achievable but expressed doubt about completing major reforms within the lifespan of a single government administration.
He emphasised that constitutional reform must be approached in a structured, incremental manner to avoid unintended consequences across the broader legal and institutional framework.
Prof. Quashigah noted that, regardless of any amendments made, public dissatisfaction with governance would continue to drive demands for further changes, hence the need for a more flexible and responsive amendment process.
Touching on the way forward, he stressed the need for strong, specialised institutions to oversee and sustain the amendment process, rather than relying on ad hoc arrangements.
Prof. Quashigah, drawing inspiration from practices in Illinois and California, advocated a continuous approach to constitutional review.
He proposed institutionalising periodic reviews every 20 to 25 years to sustain public participation and ensure the Constitution reflects contemporary needs.
Women
On her part, Women’s Rights Advocate Becky Enyonam Ahadzi called for constitutional safeguards to boost women’s political representation.
She said challenges facing women in politics stemmed from the absence of structural guarantees despite existing legal provisions.
Ms Ahadzi, who is also the Coordinator of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, said that although Article 17 of the Constitution guaranteed equality, weak enforcement had not yielded equitable outcomes in women’s political participation.
She said Ghana’s electoral system contributed to the imbalance.
“The country operates the first-past-the-post system, a system that does little to support women’s representation.
“In a political landscape shaped by entrenched patriarchal norms and increased monetisation of politics, the chances and success of women as leaders are limited,” she said.
Ms Ahadzi said the ongoing constitutional review process provided an opportunity to implement enforceable reforms to strengthen women’s representation.
She, however, noted that the current report of the Constitution Review Committee did not include provisions for quotas for women in Parliament and local government. GNA
Source:
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