The Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR), a coalition of about 80 citizen, professional and academic organisations, has called on the President to urgently establish a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to steer the next phase of the country’s constitutional reform process.
The coalition said the nation could not afford to miss the opportunity again after earlier attempts in 2011–2012 and 2019 to review the 1992 Constitution stalled.
It added that successfully completing the current 2025 constitutional review process would mark a historic achievement and a lasting legacy for the sitting President.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Chairperson of the CPCR, Professor Akosua Darkwah, said the proposed CRIC should comprise broad representation from civil society, academia, professional bodies and political actors to ensure transparency and inclusiveness in implementing the recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC).
“The implementation committee must not become another deliberative body that reopens debates already settled by the Constitution Review Committee,” Prof. Darkwah said.
“Rather, it should focus on translating the CRC’s recommendations into action, coordinating the reform process and building consensus among stakeholders to ensure progress,” she added.
The coalition also urged the government to publish a clear and transparent timeline for implementing the constitutional reform agenda.
According to the Platform, such a plan should outline the stages of consultation, the legislative procedures required and any referendum processes needed to amend provisions of the Constitution.
It further called on the government to ensure that any position paper issued in response to the CRC report clearly states its policy position without altering or misrepresenting the committee’s findings and recommendations.
Citizen participation
The CPCR also called on the government to immediately publish the full report of the CRC to enhance transparency and enable citizens to participate meaningfully in the reform process.
It said public access to the committee’s detailed findings and evidence was critical to fostering informed public debate.
The coalition cautioned that the government’s proposed “position paper” should not delay the release of the CRC report.
“Citizens must have the opportunity to independently examine the committee’s proposals and engage constructively with the reform process,” Prof. Darkwah emphasised.
Avoid past mistakes
The Platform warned against repeating past mistakes that undermined earlier constitutional reform efforts.
It noted that the White Paper issued after the Fiadjoe Commission report in 2011 contributed to the stagnation of reforms and weakened public enthusiasm for the process.
The group therefore urged the swift establishment of the CRIC to help build consensus and guide the implementation phase.
It also called on the government to provide a clear roadmap and timelines for the reforms, noting that the procedures required for constitutional amendments, coupled with increasing political activity ahead of the 2026–2027 election cycle, leave limited time for meaningful progress.
Need for strong leadership
The CPCR stressed that strong political leadership and sustained public engagement would be critical to restoring public confidence in democratic governance and ensuring the success of the constitutional reform agenda.
The coalition has been monitoring the constitutional review process since the CRC completed its work and submitted its final report to the Office of the President.
According to the Platform, clear direction and transparency from the government will be essential to maintaining public trust and momentum in the reform process.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh