By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Bolgatanga, Oct. 1, GNA – The Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana), in partnership with the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has engaged journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Upper East Region to deepen their understanding of Ghana’s constitutional review process to promote broader citizen participation.
The engagement organised under the Citizen Platform for Constitutional Reform Convened under the auspices of the Democracy Hub and STAR-Ghana and being funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The engagement sought to sensitise participants on the constitutional review process and encourage them to contribute to making the process more inclusive and representative of citizens across the country.
Mr Awal Ahmed Kariama, the Executive Director of RISE-Ghana, said the initiative formed part of efforts by civil society organisations to rally citizens and other stakeholders to ensure that the constitutional review process reflected the views and aspirations of Ghanaians.
He said although constitutional review was often perceived as an issue primarily involving Parliament, the law and political actors, the Constitution was the supreme law of the country and, therefore, required the active participation of citizens.
“When it comes to issues of constitutional review, issues of our Constitution, it is the supreme law that determines from our natural resources to everything. So the role of citizens is very critical,” he said.
Mr Kariama said it was important that opportunities created by the constitutional review process were not concentrated in Accra and other major cities but extended to communities across the country to enable citizens to have a voice in shaping the Constitution.
He said the civil society platform, involving organisations including CDD-Ghana, the Democracy Hub and STAR-Ghana, was working with more than 100 other organisations to broaden participation in the process.
“The platform has already undertaken training and town hall meetings as part of efforts to educate citizens and stakeholders about the constitutional review process,” he stated.
He said the sensitisation programme would also be followed by engagements with conveners of various sub-committees of the constitutional review process and other stakeholders to further expand discussions on the proposed reforms.
Mr Kariama urged journalists to take an active interest in the process and use their platforms to educate the public, stimulate informed discussions and ensure that citizens were adequately informed about opportunities to participate.
Mr Nicolas Azebire, a journalist with Dreams FM, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, commended RISE-Ghana and CDD-Ghana for organising the engagement, saying it would help journalists deepen their understanding of the constitutional review process.
He said the knowledge gained would also enable journalists to better educate the public and contribute to informed discussions on constitutional reforms.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Reporter’s email: [email protected]