Accra, March 16, – Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), has called on journalists to take a leading role in educating Ghanaians on the country’s constitutional reform process.
He stressed that the media must simplify the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) and help citizens understand the proposals to ensure informed engagement with Members of Parliament when the reforms are debated.
Dr. Akwetey, who is also a steering committee member of the Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform, made the call at a press conference in Accra on Monday, where the coalition of about 80 civil society, professional, and academic organisations demanded the immediate publication of the CRC’s full report.
He noted that many constitutional reform proposals were often technical and difficult for the general public to understand, stressing that journalists had a duty to bridge the gap between policymakers and citizens.
“The constitution that will guide the country into the future and the kind of development we seek will depend on the decisions made today,” he said. “No one can do this better than journalists. They must help educate citizens so they can engage their MPs and ensure decisions are taken in the national interest.”
Dr. Akwetey emphasized that public education was key to ensuring citizens actively participate in the reform process, especially since parliamentary approval is required for constitutional amendments. He said understanding the proposals would enable citizens to make informed contributions and hold elected representatives accountable.
The constitutional reform process was initiated after President John Dramani Mahama established the CRC in fulfilment of a manifesto pledge by the ruling National Democratic Congress to review Ghana’s governance framework under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
After nearly a year of nationwide consultations and stakeholder engagements, the Committee submitted a summary of its recommendations to the President on December 22, 2025, generating widespread public debate across the country.
However, the comprehensive final report, submitted to the Presidency in January 2026, has not yet been made public.
The Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform is therefore calling on the government to immediately release the full report to allow citizens to study the proposals and participate meaningfully in the next phase of the reform process.
The group also urged the immediate establishment of a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to coordinate the implementation of the CRC’s recommendations and facilitate consensus building among political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
Dr. Akwetey said Ghana had experienced several stalled attempts at constitutional reform in the past, stressing the importance of sustaining public interest to avoid repeating previous failures.
“It would be quite historic and a major achievement if this time the reform process is not shelved,” he said. “Citizens must take interest in the process and actively engage their representatives in Parliament to ensure that the proposed reforms reflect the aspirations of the Ghanaian people.”
The Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform is a collaborative initiative facilitated by the Centre for Democratic Development Ghana, the STAR-Ghana Foundation, and The Democracy Hub, bringing together diverse organisations and citizens to support advocacy and engagement in Ghana’s ongoing constitutional reform process.
Source:Joseph Kobla Wemakor
