Citizens Platform Urges Mahama to Publish Constitutional Review Report and Fast-Track Reform Process
Human Rights Reporters
4 min read
The Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform has called on John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, to urgently publish the full report of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) and outline a clear roadmap for the country’s constitutional reform process.
At a press conference in Accra on Monday, March 16, the coalition of about 80 citizen, professional and academic organisations expressed concern over delays in the next phase of reforms following the submission of the CRC’s final report to the presidency earlier this year.
The statement, presented by Prof. Akosua K. Darkwah, Chair of the Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform, said the government must immediately release the committee’s comprehensive report to enable citizens to scrutinize its recommendations and participate meaningfully in shaping reforms.
“The publication of the CRC’s full report is critical to creating transparency and informed public participation,” the Platform said. “Citizens must have access to the detailed reasoning and evidence behind the Committee’s recommendations.”
The CRC was established by President Mahama in line with a manifesto pledge by the ruling National Democratic Congress to review Ghana’s governance framework under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
The main opposition New Patriotic Party had also pledged constitutional reforms in its own manifesto, reflecting what the Platform described as broad political consensus on the need for change.
After nearly a year of nationwide consultations and stakeholder engagements, the committee submitted a summary of its recommendations to the presidency on December 22, 2025, which was subsequently made public and sparked widespread debate.
However, although the full report was presented to the presidency in January 2026, it has yet to be released publicly.
The government has indicated that the report may be published alongside a government “position paper,” but the Platform cautioned against linking the release of the report to such a document.
Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Centre for Democratic Development Ghana and a steering committee member of the Platform, said the committee’s report should be published immediately to allow stakeholders to begin digesting its findings.
“I don’t think we need to tie that process to the government position paper,” he said. “If the recommendations are already available, the public should be able to examine them and engage with the justification behind them.”
He also warned that time was running out for the reform process, noting that constitutional amendments require a three-month gazette notice for non-entrenched provisions and six months for entrenched provisions under Ghana’s constitutional procedures.
“This exercise would involve both entrenched and non-entrenched provisions, so we really need to get the process moving,” Dr. Asante added.
The Platform further urged the President to immediately establish a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to guide the next phase of the reform process and build consensus among political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
The group stressed that the proposed implementation committee should focus on executing the CRC’s recommendations rather than reopening debates already concluded during the review process.
Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance and a steering committee member of the Platform, underscored the crucial role of public education and media engagement in ensuring the success of the reform agenda.
According to him, journalists have a responsibility to help citizens understand the proposed changes so they can effectively engage their Members of Parliament when the reform proposals are debated.
“We have had too many attempts at reforming the Constitution and at some point we leave it,” he said. “It would be quite historic if this time we do not shelve it.”
The Platform also called on the government to publish a transparent timeline and implementation plan for the reform process, covering consultations, legislative steps and possible referenda required to amend entrenched provisions.
It warned that delays could jeopardize the reform agenda, especially as political parties begin internal activities ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The coalition further cautioned against the use of a government “position paper” to dictate the outcome of the reform process, saying any government response should merely contribute to the national debate rather than override the CRC’s analysis.
“Government perspectives are welcome and important, but they must enter the process as proposals subject to discussion, refinement and agreement,” the Platform said.
In addition, the group urged President Mahama to take visible leadership in mobilizing national support for the reform agenda, describing the moment as a critical opportunity to strengthen democratic governance in Ghana.
The call comes amid declining public confidence in democracy, as recent surveys cited by the Platform show citizen satisfaction with democratic governance falling significantly in recent years.
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 civil society organisations and citizens to coordinate engagement and advocacy on Ghana’s constitutional reform process.
By Joseph Kobla Wemakor
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