The Citizens' Platform on Constitutional Reforms (CPCR) has asked government to pass a Constitutional Reform Implementation and Roadmap Act to guide the ongoing review of the 1992 Constitution.

The platform, made up of over 100 CSOs and convened by CDD-Ghana, Democracy Hub and STAR-Ghana Foundation, made the call at a press conference in Accra today which is International Day of Democracy.

Professor Alisha Darkwah, Chairperson of CPCR Steering Committee, thanked government for acting on the Constitution Review Committee's report, but warned that process matters.

"We believe that how we make this Constitution matters as much as what we put inside it.”

"Ghana’s Constitution belongs to the Ghanaian people. It does not belong to the Government of the day," She  said.

The CPCR is demanding four guarantees saying “the implementation process should not remain a statement of good intentions or a process that can be changed at any time”.

The group cited the abandoned 2012 Fiadjoe Review and the aborted 2019 referendum.

It should not be "limited to copying only the Government’s Position Paper into amendment bills" but must be allowed to build consensus. They want the Conduct of Public Officers Bill paused.

"We are therefore asking the government to commit, now, that it will not place more than twenty different amendments before the country as one package, with one 'Yes' or 'No' answer”, they said.

They continued that money must be "set aside and protected in law, led by the NCCE" to meet the 40% turnout and 75% approval thresholds.

Professor Alisha Darkwah, speaking on behalf of the  CPCR, added that they agree with government on its 16 proposals including electing MMDCEs and moving presidential elections to November but disagree on 16 others including extending the presidential term from 4 to 5 years and allowing MPs to serve as Ministers.

Source: Classfm