There will be significant reforms in Ghana's Constitution - Prof. Kwasi Prempeh assures

The Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has guaranteed that the works of the committee will result in favourable outcomes.

In a conversation on Joy Prime on March 17 2025, Prof. Kwasi Prempeh provided insights into the task handed to the committee by President Mahama.

He disclosed that the committee has already engaged President Mahama to brief him on the progress of work so far and also seek his insight and experience as the leader of the country.

“Our report will be submitted to the president, who initiated our appointments. Two weeks ago, we had the opportunity to meet with him as our first stakeholder. At the meeting, we provided an update on our work since our inauguration and also sought his views on various constitutional matters based on his experience as both president and former vice president,” he said.

Prof Kwasi Prempeh mentioned that while the president is not involved in the final decision-making, his active participation in the process is crucial.

“Of course, the President doesn’t hold the keys, he is only one of the gatekeepers. Once we clear his barrier we have to go to parliament, because constitutional reform is essentially lawmaking. That has to be presented as a bill and passed by Parliament,” he added.

He highlighted that if the reforms consist of non-entrenched provisions, Parliament will be able to enact them. On the other hand, for entrenched clauses, a wider national involvement will be necessary for Ghanaians to accept.

He stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement in the exercise and assured that all relevant stakeholders will be consulted with their inputs included in the decisions that will be arrived at by the committee.

"If we are going to reset, the way of doing things in this place must change, that is a resetting for me. I'm also saying that, if Ghanaians want change, they will get it. It will be for us to continue being engaged.

“I believe that the president has the mandate and full responsibility to fulfil that pledge and this process will lead to positive outcomes,” he concluded.

MKA/EK