Reviewing constitution will build resilient democracy — Political Scientist

A political scientist, Ransford Brobbey, has stated that a review of the 1992 Constitution will build a framework to deliver democratic dividends—inclusive, independent and effective institutions, economic development and full human dignity. 

He, therefore, said the review should be considered as an action to build a resilient democracy and not be interpreted as changing Ghana’s fundamental law.

“This means letting the constitution demand policy accountability and reflect the aspirations and wishes of a new and global generation,” he told the Daily Graphic in an interview.

Mr Brobbey, who is also a Research Associate at the Imani Centre for Policy and Education, was, therefore, hopeful that the President, John Dramani Mahama, would quicken the process by setting up the Constitution Implementation Committee to ensure that the 1992 Constitution is reviewed before he exits office in 2028.

The H. Kwasi Prempeh Constitution Review Committee presented its report to the President on December 22, 2025.

President Mahama, after receiving the report, noted that active steps would be taken in 2026 to implement the report’s recommendations.

The CRC has proposed far-reaching reforms to rein in the cost of elections, recommending constitutional limits on the duration of political campaigns and strict controls on how much political parties and candidates can spend.

In public conversations, proposals ranged from radical voices demanding a new Constitution to moderate voices demanding reforms to carefully identified areas of defect. 

Parliament

Mr Brobbey reminded Parliament that, as the people’s representatives, MPs should bear in their minds that the report of the CRC was the sum of views expressed by citizens across the country on the future of the governing framework.

Their onus is to subject the proposed reforms to very dispassionate nationalistic debates. This will be a critical juncture in their lives to leave a lasting legacy, as was left some three decades ago by the framers, which had provided for proceedings in nine lives of Parliament.

He said that although the CRC consulted extensively, Parliament should not hesitate to invite and engage relevant stakeholders on some of the proposals.

“Amending the constitution should not be a siloed production of Parliament but rather an extension of the engagement started by the CRC.

“More so, representatives must be keen to attend their ears to public opinions expressed on the proposals since the report became public,” he observed.

Mr Brobbey explained that by gauging public reaction to the aftermath of the release of the report, MPs could debate the proposals with the spirit of the nation.

He said after 34 years, the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution had proven beyond expectations to be a solid foundation.

“Notwithstanding, it must be understood that the 1992 Constitution was a transitional constitution, and as such it was promulgated with certain compromises after close to a decade of military rule and only two and a half years of civilian rule in the two decades preceding its adoption,” he said.

Not perfect

Mr Brobbey explained that the 1992 Constitution was, therefore, not the perfect document for a new republic.

“Nevertheless, it embodied hope and strived to be resilient, learning from how and why the first, second and third republics failed,” he stated, adding that “Constitutions, obviously, are designed to stand the test of time.”