Accra, Ghana//-The Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform (The Platform), a coalition of 80 citizen, professional, and academic groups, on Monday 16, March 2026, called for transparency and urgency in the ongoing constitutional reform process in Ghana.
Professor Akosua Darkwah, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Citizens Platform for Constitutional Review, who addressed journalists in Accra on behalf of the 80 citizen groups, noted: “The publication of the CRC’s full report is critical to creating transparency and informed public participation.
Citizens must have access to the detailed reasoning and evidence behind the Committee’s recommendations”.
Without this, meaningful public engagement in the next stage of the process will be limited. While it is understandable that the government may wish to present its own views on the recommendations, the release of a position paper must not delay the publication of the Committee’s full report, she added.
“The report should be made public in its entirety now so that citizens can independently examine the proposals and provide their views on the reform process”.
Below is the full Press Statement
The Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform (The Platform), a coalition of 80 citizen, professional, and academic groups, has been monitoring the constitutional review process since the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) completed its mandate and formally submitted the final report to the Office of the President.
Today, the Platform shares its concerns and proposals to accelerate the constitutional review process.
We recall that, in fulfillment of President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto commitment to constitutional reform, the President established the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to review Ghana’s constitutional framework and make recommendations toward strengthening the country’s governance.
It is also notable that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in its own manifesto, had committed to engaging Parliament and other stakeholders, including political parties, to review the 1992 Constitution in order to advance effective national development.
These commitments reflect a broad recognition across the political spectrum that constitutional reform remains an important national priority.
After almost a year of stakeholder engagements, public consultations, and report analysis, the Committee submitted a summary of its recommendations to the President on 22nd December, 2025.
This summary report was simultaneously made available to the public. The recommendations generated widespread public debate across sectors of society.
The public response reflected a strong embrace of the Committee’s work and a clear desire by citizens to engage in the next phase of the reform process.
In January 2026, the Committee presented the comprehensive final report, containing the full justification and rationale for its recommendations.
However, contrary to public expectations, the full report has not yet been published for public consumption. Indications from the government suggest that the report will be released together with a government “position paper.”
In addition, it has been reported that the President intends to establish a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to oversee the next stage of the reform process.
It has now been over two months since the final report was submitted, and citizens remain in the dark about any plan or timeline for the next stage of the constitutional review process.
Many citizens expected the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to clarify the next steps in the constitutional reform process, but any mention of the process was vague and general.
The Platform is deeply concerned and would like to share its views on several key issues, some of which have been highlighted in previous statements.
The publication of the CRC’s full report is critical to creating transparency and informed public participation. Citizens must have access to the detailed reasoning and evidence behind the Committee’s recommendations.
Without this, meaningful public engagement in the next stage of the process will be limited. While it is understandable that the government may wish to present its own views on the recommendations, the release of a position paper must not delay the publication of the Committee’s full report.
The report should be made public in its entirety now so that citizens can independently examine the proposals and provide their views on the reform process.
The Citizen platform has cautioned the use of a government ‘position paper’ to drive the next phase of the implementation. The current constitutional review process must be guided by lessons from past attempts.
The issuance of a White Paper following the report of the Fiadjoe Commission derailed the process and extinguished enthusiasm for the process.
Nonetheless, any formal views of government must be subjected to the same test that should guide public engagement of the CRC proposals. All proposals must affirm or challenge the diagnosis of the problems the CRC sought to address and show that alternative recommendations are better at addressing the problem identified.
Through this process, we can foster consensus-building and shared understanding of the common problems and proposed solutions.
As noted in our previous statement, the proposed Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC), which was expected to be set up immediately after the submission of the CRC final report, provides a platform and vehicle to build the necessary consensus for the next phase of implementation.
With the right composition and political inclusion, the CRIC can shepherd the process to a successful conclusion.
The constitutional reform process also requires clear timelines and transparent procedures. The government must clarify the implementation roadmap, including the role of the proposed implementation committee and how citizens and stakeholders will participate in shaping the final reforms.
The 1992 Constitution amendment procedures impose a three and six-month gazette notice for non-entrenched and entrenched provisions, which will significantly impact the timetable for reforms.
The almost two-month delay puts additional pressure on the already short timelines for this important exercise.
In addition, given that active partisan political activity will begin in earnest by the end of 2026 and into 2027, there is very little time to spare.
We urge the President and government to move with alacrity to establish a clear and transparent roadmap for the implementation of the CRC recommendation. A strong constitutional reform requires decisive and determined leadership.
On 11th June 2025, speaking to the leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at the Jubilee House, President Mahama warned that ‘this is the last opportunity for political leaders to restore the faith of the people in democratic governance.
Failure to do this will lead to something untoward, like civil unrest, where citizens will make the country ungovernable.
This was the reason he had set the CRC to begin the process of restoring faith in democratic governance.’. President Mahama referenced the Afrobarometer surveys in his remarks.
Particularly, findings that show a significant decline in the satisfaction of citizens with the practice of democracy. The level of satisfaction has dropped by 31 percentage points from a high of 78% in 2017 to 49% in 2024.
More worryingly, rejection of military rule has weakened by 10 percentage points in the same period. In 2024, 62% compared to 72% in 2017 disapproved or strongly disapproved of military rule.
Related to this concern is the majority view (51%) that the army can take over government if elected leaders abuse power. The task ahead of the country is enormous and requires a special passion and commitment to drive the country to the desired destination.
We urge President Mahama to intensify his public engagement, pronouncements on constitutional matters, and become the chief mobiliser if the exercise is to succeed and he is to leave a long-lasting legacy.
Ghana stands at a critical moment in its democratic development. Citizens, the state, and the political class must seize this opportunity to strengthen the country’s constitutional architecture in ways that enhance accountability, deepen democracy, and improve governance outcomes.
This is the third attempt at self-correction of the current distorted governance system. Failure to act is not an option if we want to preserve this democracy and enable development.
In summary, the Citizens Platform is calling on the government to:
- Publish the CRC Report Now: The Government must immediately release the full Constitutional Review Committee report so that citizens can examine the proposals and participate meaningfully in shaping the reforms.
- Constitute the Implementation Committee Without Delay: We demand that the President urgently establish the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) with broad representation from civil society, academia, professional bodies, and political actors to guide the next phase of the reform process. We also demand that the mandate of the
The Constitutional Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) should be carefully defined so that it does not become another deliberative body that restarts the debate.
Its function should be implementation, coordination, and consensus-building around the CRC recommendations, not a reopening of the review process itself.
- Announce a Clear Reform Roadmap: The government must publish a transparent timeline and implementation plan for the constitutional reform process, including consultation stages, legislative steps, and referendum requirements.
- Separate Government Views from the CRC Report: We ask that if the Government intends to issue a position paper in response to the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) report, its content should be structured in a way that clarifies the Government’s policy stance without distorting the CRC’s analysis or recommendations.
- A government position paper must guide discussion, not dictate the outcome of constitutional reform.
We also demand that the Government’s position paper, if issued, must be understood as a contribution to the national conversation, not a directive that predetermines the outcome of the constitutional reform process.
Its purpose should be to present the Government’s views for public consideration while leaving space for the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to carry out its central task of building consensus across political parties, civil society, professional bodies, and citizens.
The reform process will only succeed if it is seen as open, participatory, and nationally owned. A position paper that appears to impose conclusions rather than invite debate risks undermining that confidence.
Government perspectives are welcome and important, but they must enter the process as proposals subject to discussion, refinement, and agreement through the broader deliberative work of the CRIC.
- Champion the National Conversation on Reform: The President should take visible leadership in mobilising national support for constitutional reform, ensuring that this historic opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s democracy is not lost.
The Presidency must show that it intends to make this a legacy-defining reform, and must be instrumental in ensuring that the implementation is successful.
The Citizens Platform reiterates its unwavering commitment to supporting the constitutional reform process through constructive engagement, public education, and collaboration with all stakeholders.
Since our launch, we have engaged with members of the media, CSOs and youth leaders in Accra, Tamale, Takoradi, Kumasi and Koforidua.
We remain dedicated to seeing the process through to its conclusion in a manner that reflects the aspirations and interests of Ghanaians.
About the Civil Society Platform on Constitutional Review
The Citizens Platform on Constitutional Review is a collaborative initiative facilitated by CDD-Ghana, STAR-Ghana Foundation, and Democracy Hub, bringing together diverse organisations, activists, and citizens to coordinate engagement, advocacy, and accountability in Ghana’s ongoing constitutional reform process. It comprises 80 citizen groups.
