Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, has emphasized the urgent need for broad national consensus to ensure the success of Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process.
He noted that a key reason previous review efforts, including the one launched under former President Atta Mills, failed to materialize was the absence of sustained bipartisan support, despite extensive national consultations and recommendations.
A similar committee was also established by former President John Dramani Mahama at the beginning of his second term to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the 1992 Constitution.
Yet, like its predecessor, it too faced implementation setbacks under successive governments.
Speaking during a committee sitting in Takoradi, Prof. Prempeh highlighted that although it has been 14 years since the last major constitutional review attempt, Ghanaians must recognize that reforming the Constitution is not merely a legal or technical task, but a deeply political one.
“Sure, it’s been on the shelf for 14 years,” he acknowledged, “but we also have to understand that the constitutional review process, ultimately, is a political process.”
He explained that while committees may fulfill their mandate and submit reports, successful implementation hinges on political collaboration and agreement.
“Once we are done — just as the last commission — with these engagements and we write our report, the process requires bipartisan consensus,” he stated.
Prof. Prempeh also outlined the constitutional hurdles involved in amending various clauses, noting the difference between entrenched and non-entrenched provisions.
“To amend a non-entrenched clause, you need two-thirds of votes in Parliament. But to amend an entrenched clause, you have to go to a referendum, where at least 40% of registered voters must turn out — and of those, 75% must vote ‘Yes’ to pass it.”
He lamented that Parliament has struggled to meet even the basic threshold for non-entrenched amendments over the years.
“In the last 14 years, has there even been a bipartisan opportunity — even for the non-entrenched clauses?” he questioned. “You can have the constitutional review report, but if there’s no opportunity to build consensus around the proposals, you can’t do anything.”
Reflecting on a missed opportunity in 2019, Prof. Prempeh cited efforts to reform local governance through two proposals: electing MMDCEs and allowing political party participation in local government elections.
“We had a chance in 2019 to pass two proposals: one was to vote for MMDCEs — which had already started in Parliament because it’s non-entrenched — and the other was to allow political parties to participate in local government elections, which is entrenched.”
“But those proposals did not proceed because they couldn’t even get the needed two-thirds in Parliament,” he added.
Despite past disappointments, Prof. Prempeh expressed optimism that the current review could succeed — provided political will and public momentum are sustained.
“This time around, I think there is that momentum,” he concluded.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
