Citizens call for inclusion in constitutional review process
Participants in a civic engagement conference on governance and institutional reforms have called for greater inclusion of grassroots voices in Ghana’s constitutional review process.
They warned that the dominance of political elites and urban stakeholders could undermine the legitimacy and impact of the review.
Engagement
The concerns were raised at a public engagement workshop at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Northern Region.
It was organised by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), with support from Oxfam on the theme: “Bridging the Gap: Citizen Engagement in Ghana’s Constitutional Review Process.”
The event aimed to empower citizens, particularly from underserved communities, to actively participate in shaping governance and institutional reforms.
Participants
Participants—including women, youth and persons who are challenged from various districts across northern Ghana—expressed concern about limited public awareness of the Constitutional Review Committee’s activities.
Many were unaware of the upcoming zonal public hearings.
“We have been here but haven’t heard any news about any committee coming to engage citizens,” lamented one participant, who echoed widespread fears of exclusion.
Strategy
The workshop featured a practical capacity-building session, equipping participants to draft and present position papers to strengthen citizen advocacy and ensure local perspectives are formally communicated to the review committee.
Facilitators provided strategic guidance on articulating policy demands and constructively engaging decision makers.
Beyond constitutional issues, attendees voiced frustrations about ongoing development challenges, particularly regarding public service delivery.
Many argued that meaningful constitutional reform must address systemic governance gaps at the local level.
The event reinforced that constitutional change must reflect the lived realities and aspirations of all citizens.
Review
Delivering a keynote address, the Head of Advocacy and Institutional Relations at IDEG, Kwesi Jonah, stressed that calls for constitutional review resonated across all levels of society and not just among political actors in Accra.
“The voices of the grassroots must be heard; their experiences and frustrations must shape the reforms,” he said. — GNA
