Constitutional Review Committee: We’ve engaged the President, but MPs and Ghanaians hold the key to reforms – Prof Prempeh

The Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has stated that while the committee has engaged President John Mahama on constitutional reforms, the final outcome will depend on Parliament and the Ghanaian people.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM on Monday, March 17, 2025, Prof Prempeh disclosed that the committee met with the president two weeks ago to provide an update on their work and to hear his views on aspects of the constitution that may require changes.

“We sought an audience with him, and he granted it. At the meeting, we informed him about what we’ve been doing since our inauguration. But we also made it clear that it was a stakeholder engagement. We wanted to hear from him what he was expecting from this process, based on his experiences as a president, vice president, and minister,” he said.

Parliament and public involvement in the reform process

Prof Prempeh stressed that constitutional reforms do not rest solely with the president, as Parliament must pass the necessary bills before any changes can take effect.

“The president does not hold all the keys. He is only one of the gatekeepers. Once we clear his barrier, we have to go to Parliament because constitutional reform is essentially lawmaking. It has to come in the form of a bill that is passed in Parliament,” he explained.

He added that if the reforms involve entrenched provisions, a national referendum will be required, allowing Ghanaians to make the final decision.

“For the entrenched clauses, it is all of us. We have to go to a referendum, put the issues to the ballot, and let Ghanaians decide whether to accept or reject them,” he noted.

Public pressure needed for reforms to succeed

Prof Prempeh urged Ghanaians to actively follow the process and engage their representatives to push for real constitutional change.

“It takes sustained public interest and pressure. Parliamentarians don’t represent themselves; they represent us. So, as long as Ghanaians are involved in this process, take a keen interest in it, and stay engaged, I believe there will be a political response to it,” he said.

Mahama’s stance on constitutional reforms

Prof Prempeh recalled that during the committee’s inauguration, President Mahama assured them that the review process would not be abandoned.

“The first time he gave that assurance was at our inauguration—that this was not going to be one of those processes that gather dust. He repeated that pledge at our meeting with him,” he stated.

He further explained that the president’s campaign promise of a “reset” for the country includes governance reforms, making the constitutional review process a crucial part of fulfilling that pledge.

“The president campaigned on the promise of a reset. And resetting governance means that the way we’ve done things must change. If Ghanaians really want change, they’ll get it. It’s up to us to stay engaged,” he added.