President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that Ghanaians could vote on proposed constitutional amendments during the 2027 District Assembly Elections, as part of the government’s efforts to reform the country’s governance system.
The President said the proposed arrangement would allow the government to combine the referendum on entrenched constitutional provisions with the District Assembly polls, giving voters the opportunity to participate in both exercises on the same day.
He made the disclosure during a citizens’ engagement in Bolgatanga as part of his two-day tour of the Upper East Region under the Resetting Ghana Tour.
President Mahama explained that the government was preparing to begin the process of implementing recommendations from the Constitutional Review Commission, with the proposed amendments first to be assessed and categorised according to their constitutional requirements.
“We therefore want to add the referendum to the District Assembly elections next year. Next year, apart from voting for your Assembly Members, you will also be required to vote on the constitutional amendments,” he said.
The President said a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee would soon be inaugurated to harmonise the government’s position paper with the report of the Constitutional Review Commission.
The committee, he explained, would separate the proposed amendments into entrenched and non-entrenched provisions to determine the appropriate process for their adoption.
According to President Mahama, amendments involving non-entrenched provisions would require only parliamentary approval, while changes to entrenched provisions would have to go through a national referendum.
He noted that the Constitution requires at least 40 per cent of registered voters to participate in such a referendum, with at least 75 per cent of those who vote supporting the proposed amendments for them to be approved.
“If the referendum is successful, we will implement the amendments to the entrenched clauses. That is what we are doing with regard to governance,” he said.
The proposed referendum is expected to form part of the government’s broader constitutional and governance reform agenda, with the 2027 District Assembly Elections providing the proposed platform for the exercise.
Mahama Directs Action on Kologo Development Needs
Meanwhile, President Mahama has directed the government to respond to key development needs raised by the Paramount Chief of the Kologo Traditional Area, Naba Clifford Abagna Tandegrewongrekugre Asobayire V.
The traditional leader had appealed for the construction of a road in the area and the establishment of a Senior High School to improve access to education and infrastructure for residents.
In response, President Mahama instructed the Minister of Roads and Highways to ensure that the road project was undertaken.
He also directed the Minister of Education to take steps towards establishing a Senior High School in the Kologo Traditional Area.
The President’s directives formed part of engagements with traditional leaders and residents during his tour of the Upper East Region, where development priorities and government programmes were discussed.
