A founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and veteran statesman, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has questioned the legitimacy of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to call for changes to the 1992 Constitution, citing the association’s refusal to participate in its drafting more than three decades ago.
Speaking in an interview on Onua TV’s Maakye programme on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe explained that the Ghana Bar Association wasn’t part of the creation of the 1992 Constitution.
According to him, they never attended any meeting they were called upon to attend.
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Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe argued that since the Association declined to serve on the Board, it has no legitimate basis to demand changes to the Constitution.
"Most of you don't know, but you will be surprised that the Ghana Bar Association wasn't part of the Constitution (Constitutional Board). They refused to be part and so if today we have problems there, they have no right to comment on it," he said.
The renowned statesman further revealed that the ideas of ordinary workers, including tailors, hairdressers and carpenters, were also incorporated in the drafting of the 1992 Constitution, emphasising that the GBA cannot ask that the Constitution be changed.
"The constitution you have there even has the ideas of hairdressers and carpenters. So you can't all of a sudden say that you want the constitution changed. Because one of the clauses they are asking to be changed cannot be changed easily," he emphasised.
The remarks come amid Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process.
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President John Dramani Mahama appointed a Constitution Review Committee in January 2025 to examine the 1992 Constitution.
The committee later submitted its report, which includes recommendations to remove direct references to specific private associations, including the Ghana Bar Association, from several articles.
These references currently grant the GBA roles such as representation on the Judicial Council and input into certain judicial and institutional appointments. The proposals favour neutral formulations that would allow broader nomination processes through legislation.
Historical accounts confirm that the Ghana Bar Association boycotted the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution during the transition from military to constitutional rule.
Despite this, the final document explicitly named the GBA in key provisions.
Watch his remarks below.
"The Ghana Bar Association wasn't part of the creation of the 1992 Constitution. They didn't attend; they refused. Today, if we have problems, they have no right to comment. So, they can't all of a sudden come out to say they want the constitution changed." — Dr. Nyaho… pic.twitter.com/zZwYluFKE9
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