CSOs demand law, firm timelines for constitutional reform process

A coalition of civil society organisations, labour unions and professional bodies has called for Ghana’s constitutional reform process to be backed by a dedicated law and clear timelines.

The Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reform says the process should not be left to political discretion or the life span of one administration.

The platform, made up of more than 100 organisations, wants Parliament to pass a Constitutional Reform Implementation and Roadmap Act to guide the entire exercise.

It said the law should set out the order in which the reforms will be carried out, identify the institutions responsible for each stage and fix deadlines from public consultations to any referendum.

The call was made in Accra on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, during a press conference to mark the International Day of Democracy.

The platform also released its position paper on the government’s constitutional reform proposals.

The CPCR is convened by CDD-Ghana, Democracy Hub and the STAR-Ghana Foundation.

According to the coalition, Ghana cannot afford another stalled reform process.

It cited the 2012 Implementation Committee chaired by Professor E.V.O. Dankwa and the abandoned 2019 local government referendum as examples of reform efforts that did not reach completion.

“Setting up a committee is not enough. Preparing bills is not enough. And announcing a referendum is not enough,” the platform said.

It argued that the current reform agenda involves more than 50 amendments and over 14 bills, making it unlikely to be completed within one Parliament.

The coalition therefore wants the process designed to continue even if there is a change in government.

“The Constitution ultimately belongs to the people,” the group said.

“If the Constitution belongs to the people, then the people must be fully involved in every significant step taken to review or change it.”

Beyond the proposed roadmap law, the CPCR is asking government to clarify the mandate of the Constitution Review Implementation Committee.

It said the committee should not be limited to converting the government’s position paper into draft legislation.

The platform also wants bills already progressing in Parliament ahead of the committee’s consultations and report to be paused.

It specifically mentioned the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, which it said is already before Parliament.

On the proposed referendum, the coalition urged government to avoid bundling several unrelated amendments into one Yes-or-No question.

It said no more than 20 amendments should be placed in a single referendum question.

The CPCR said amendments should be grouped only where they relate to the same subject and the questions must be written in clear and simple language.

The coalition is also demanding protected funding for civic education on the reforms.

It wants the National Commission for Civic Education to lead the public education campaign, with funds released early enough before any referendum.

The platform said the constitutional requirement of at least 40% voter turnout and 75% approval cannot be achieved if public education is “squeezed into the final weeks”.

The CPCR said it was not opposing the government’s reform agenda.

It identified 16 areas where it agrees with the proposals, including the creation of an independent Political Parties Regulatory Commission, moving presidential elections to the first week of November and introducing safeguards around certificates of urgency.

It also supports proportional representation in Parliament, allowing dual citizens to serve as MPs and giving ordinary MPs power to introduce bills.

Other areas of agreement include making a parliamentary vote of censure binding, limiting the powers of an outgoing administration, separating the Attorney-General’s office from Cabinet and reforming the timelines for presidential election petitions.

The coalition also backs the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, an Independent Public Emoluments Commission, a direct route for citizens to propose constitutional amendments and the completion of the abolition of the death penalty.

“This common ground gives the country a strong foundation on which to move the reform process forward,” the CPCR said.

However, the platform wants government to reconsider 16 other areas.

It opposes the proposal to extend the presidential and parliamentary term from four to five years.

According to the coalition, proposed changes to the election date, transition period and powers of an outgoing administration already address the concerns being used to justify a longer term.

The CPCR also wants greater transparency in presidential appointments, especially appointments to independent and oversight bodies.

It opposes allowing MPs to serve at the same time as Ministers, Deputy Ministers or Regional Ministers.

The coalition also rejects the proposal to expand Parliament from 276 to 300 seats by adding 24 proportional representation seats.

Instead, it wants a study on how proportional representation can be introduced while maintaining the current 276-seat ceiling.

On decentralisation, the CPCR wants the proposed Devolution Commission to be established as an independent constitutional body.

It also wants elections for local chief executives to be open and unfiltered, without presidential nomination, shortlisting or vetting.

The coalition is further calling for constitutional protection for funding to the proposed Democracy Fund, the Electoral Commission, the NCCE and CHRAJ.

It also wants a constitutionally established Anti-Corruption and Ethics Commission, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor integrated into the proposed body.

Other proposals include reforms to the Council of State, retention of the National Media Commission’s authority over state-owned media, recognition of environmental rights and an independent mechanism for CHRAJ to investigate abuses allegedly committed by security services.

The CPCR also supports a long-term National Development Plan approved by Parliament and anchored in the Directive Principles of State Policy.

The coalition said it will engage President John Dramani Mahama, the opposition leadership, the Constitution Review Implementation Committee and the leadership of Parliament in the coming weeks.

It also plans consultations with organised labour, professional bodies and other civil society organisations.

The platform urged Ghanaians to follow the constitutional reform process and participate before any referendum is held.

“Constitutional reform cannot be left only to politicians, lawyers or experts,” it said.

“This is the time to follow the process, participate in the discussions and insist that any changes made to our Constitution reflect the considered will of the people.”