The Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reforms (CPCR) has intensified its capacity building of stakeholders with two-day media engagement on Ghana’s ongoing constitutional reform process in Kumasi.

The workshop, which was held on Tuesday, 29th, and Wednesday, 30th, September, 2026, at Royal Lamerta Hotel, Ahodwo, Kumasi, drew participants from the Ashanti, Western North, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions.

Key facilitators include Madam Gifty Nti Konadu, a CDD-Ghana/CPCR representative; Mr Christopher Dapaah, Local Government Network; and members of the CPCR Regional Coordinating Team.

The workshop aimed at equipping journalists with the knowledge to provide credible information and facilitate informed, inclusive, and constructive public dialogue on Ghana’s constitutional development.

Participants and facilitators in a group photograph

The engagement was designed to strengthen the capacity and understanding of journalists and media practitioners on key developments in the constitutional reform process and enhance the media’s role in facilitating informed, inclusive, and constructive public dialogue on the proposed reforms.

The session also provided participants with an overview of the constitutional reform process, including key recommendations, the Government Position Paper, and the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Position Paper.

The participants also examined the emerging and contentious issues, areas of convergence and divergence among stakeholders, and their broader implications for Ghana’s democratic governance and constitutional development.

The Founder, Right, and Responsibility Initiative Ghana, Madam Aba Oppong, who led the team of experts, said recognising the critical role of the media in shaping public understanding and providing platforms for citizen participation, it was prudent for them to engage media professionals to explore approaches to accurate, balanced, and issue-based reporting on constitutional reform.

According to her, the two-day workshop was very fruitful because participants had the opportunity to engage experts, interrogate key proposals, and identify issues requiring greater public education and media attention.

Stressing that the Citizens’ Platform considers the media an important partner in ensuring that citizens have access to credible information and meaningful opportunities to participate in this important national process.

She, therefore, urged media professionals, especially participants, to take key interest and devote their airtime and spaces to create more awareness for their audiences to understand the ongoing constitutional review process.

According to her, their education or awareness creation should be done professionally, devoid of partisan politics.

“The citizens need to know the recommendations by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), the Government Position Paper, and the position of CSOs for them to make informed decisions.

We’re therefore expecting the media to play their role effectively in this manner,” she added.Madam Aba Oppong also seized the opportunity to thank the British High Commission and other partners for the support in making the engagement possible.

Speaking at the opening session, Madam Victoria Asumin, a member of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Team of Amnesty International, said the reform process had entered a critical implementation stage following the submission of the Constitution Review Committee’s report and the subsequent setting up of the implementation committee by the President of the Republic of Ghana.

She said there was a need for clear timelines and institutional responsibilities to ensure that the recommendations were effectively implemented.

According to her, the Citizens’ Platform, convened by CDD-Ghana, STAR-Ghana Foundation and Democracy Hub, together with local governance networks, is advocating the passage of a Constitutional Reform Implementation and Roadmap Act.

The proposed legislation, she explained, would spell out the reforms to be undertaken, institutions responsible for each stage, and deadlines for completing the various processes.

It would also provide timelines for public consultations, preparation of legislation, parliamentary consideration, civic education, and referendums where required.

Madam Asumin said the eight-member Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, submitted its final report on February 10, 2026, containing 206 proposals.

She said 149 of the proposals sought amendments to existing constitutional provisions, while 59 proposed entirely new constitutional provisions.

The committee, she noted, conducted 10 thematic stakeholder engagements, received more than 500 expert and practitioner inputs, reached over 21,500 people, and received 785 written submissions.

The review, she said, sought to make constitutional governance more effective for national development while preserving Ghana’s democratic gains.

Touching on some of the major recommendations, Madam Asumin said the committee had proposed extending the presidential term from four to five years.

She clarified that the proposal did not provide for a third presidential term and noted that the government had accepted the proposed five-year tenure.

Other areas covered by the reforms include presidential powers and appointments, Parliament, local government, natural resources and public finances, independent constitutional institutions, political parties and elections, the judiciary and accountability, and long-term development planning.

Madam Asumin stressed that the recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee had not automatically become law.

She explained that the implementation process would require the appropriate constitutional and legislative procedures.

According to her, entrenched provisions would require a referendum as prescribed by the Constitution, while other provisions would go through the relevant parliamentary and legal processes.

She disclosed that the government had inaugurated an 11-member Constitution Review Implementation Committee chaired by Presidential Legal Counsel and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Marietta Brew.

The committee is expected to examine the Constitution Review Committee’s report alongside the government’s position paper and develop a framework for implementing the proposals the government has accepted or intends to pursue.

According to her, CSOs were concerned that the scale of the proposed reforms could make it difficult to complete the process within the lifespan of the current Parliament.She noted that the reforms involved more than 50 amendments and over 14 bills, including new legislation and amendments to existing laws.

To this end, the process could extend beyond the 2028 general election, raising questions about continuity in the event of a change of government.

“We’re therefore advocating a legally binding framework to ensure that the process continues irrespective of changes in government or Parliament.

Besides, we’re urging the media to play a leading role in educating the public on constitutional reforms.

“While appealing for sustained funding for civic education to enable the constitutional reform conversation to reach communities across the country, particularly those with limited access to traditional and digital media.”I’m particularly appealing to the media to adopt accurate, balanced, and issue-based reporting in covering the reform process.”
By:Isaac Amoah