Efforts to deepen grassroots involvement in Ghana’s constitutional review process have gained momentum with the launch of the Ashanti Regional chapter of the CSO/Citizen Platform on Constitutional Reform in Kumasi.
The initiative shifts the focus of constitutional discussions from national-level deliberations to community-based engagement, aiming to ensure that ordinary citizens play a central role in shaping proposed reforms to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Speaking at the launch, Madam Rebecca Ekpe, Deputy Chairperson of the platform, emphasized the need to rebuild public trust in governance systems by making the reform process more inclusive and participatory.
She noted that while the Constitution has underpinned Ghana’s democratic journey under the Fourth Republic for over 30 years, emerging governance concerns—including executive dominance, weak separation of powers, and accountability challenges—highlight the need for reforms that reflect current realities.
The regional rollout follows the work of the Constitutional Review Committee set up by President John Dramani Mahama and chaired by Henry Kwasi Prempeh. The committee has already submitted its reports after extensive stakeholder consultations nationwide.
Madam Ekpe stressed that taking the conversation beyond Accra is crucial to capturing diverse perspectives, including those of women, youth, persons with disabilities, traditional leaders, and workers in the informal sector.
The platform, which brings together more than 70 organisations across civil society, academia, and professional groups, is coordinated by a steering committee led by Akosua K. Darkwah of the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana.
Organisers say the Ashanti launch marks a significant step toward ensuring that constitutional reforms are not only technically sound but also broadly owned by citizens, reducing the risk of partisan influence and strengthening Ghana’s democratic future.
