By Christopher Arko, GNA
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – Stakeholders participating in a dialogue on Ghana’s constitutional reform process have urged the Government to expand the membership of the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to allow for broader public participation and consensus-building.
They argued that a wider and more inclusive CRIC would help develop a manageable set of priority reform issues around which stakeholders could build common positions.
Earlier this year, the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), established in January 2025, submitted its comprehensive report to the President. Following the submission, the Government issued a Position Paper outlining its response to the committee’s recommendations.
The Government accepted some of the CRC’s proposals, rejected others, and proposed alternative approaches to a number of recommendations while, in some instances, seeking to preserve the underlying objectives of the committee’s proposals.
Subsequently, the Government established the CRIC as the technical body responsible for implementing its approved constitutional reform agenda. The committee is expected to oversee the implementation of proposals contained in the Government’s Position Paper.
Addressing the dialogue, Mr Alhassan Tampuli, Member of Parliament for Gushegu, presenting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) position, called for the establishment of a Constituent Assembly comprising representatives of political parties, organised labour, the National House of Chiefs, religious bodies, women’s groups, youth organisations and persons with disabilities, among other stakeholders.
He argued that the recommendations contained in the CRC report amounted to a fundamental overhaul of Ghana’s constitutional order. According to him, the report contains 206 proposals, including 147 amendments to existing constitutional provisions and 59 entirely new provisions.
Mr Tampuli maintained that the current CRIC process was too narrow and should be broadened to accommodate more stakeholders, stressing that the constitutional reform process should not be limited to the two major political parties.
“Ghana is not only about the NPP and the NDC. This process goes beyond political parties and affects every Ghanaian. The best way forward is to ensure that everybody is brought on board. It should not be reduced to a contest between the NPP and the NDC, especially if some of the issues will eventually be subjected to a referendum,” he said.
He also questioned the composition of the CRIC, describing some members as being closely aligned with the Government, a situation he said could create the impression of partisanship.
Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, also underscored the need for broad consensus among stakeholders to strengthen the reform process.
He said the legitimacy of the constitutional reform exercise would largely depend on the level of consensus reached on key constitutional provisions.
Alhaji Fuseini, however, expressed concern over the extent to which stakeholders would remain involved as the process progresses, stressing the importance of sustained engagement throughout the reform exercise.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe