At a public lecture organized by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) under the theme “Beyond the Text: Making Ghana’s Constitution Deliver Democracy”, the government reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional reform and deeper democratic accountability.
Delivering remarks on behalf of Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim outlined President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda as the guiding framework for aligning Ghana’s 1992 Constitution with contemporary realities.
She noted that the Constitution, while a solid foundation for Ghana’s longest democratic experiment, was never meant to be a mere legal text, adding that a constitution, however well-intentioned or well-practised, only delivers democracy when it moves beyond its words into practice and intentional actions.
“Our duty, therefore, is to ensure that the ideas enshrined in our constitution translate into tangible benefits where the principles of accountability, fairness, inclusion, and justice are ensured and felt for every citizen”.
Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Shamima Muslim highlighted that in January 2025, President Mahama inaugurated an eight-member Constitution Review Committee chaired by Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh of CDD-Ghana.
The committee’s mandate, she explained, is to revisit earlier reform efforts, consult widely, and recommend adjustments that respond to Ghana’s current needs.
Already, submissions have been received from diverse groups including civil society organizations, traditional authorities, labour unions, persons with disabilities, and women’s groups. “The President is eagerly awaiting the final report from this very important exercise,” she said.
Constitutional Developments
Turning to recent constitutional developments, Shamima Muslim recalled the suspension and eventual removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkonoo earlier this year following petitions alleging misconduct.
She acknowledged that the decision—though constitutionally mandated under Article 146—sparked debate over judicial independence and the balance of powers. Yet, she insisted, it also demonstrated the resilience of Ghana’s democratic institutions.
“It underscores the delicate balance that arises with the enforcement of constitutional dictates and the preservation of institutional independence”.
Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Central to President Mahama’s Reset Agenda, she said, is the recognition that gaps persist between the ideals of the Constitution and the daily realities of Ghanaians. The agenda insists on intentional reforms to bridge this gap, emphasising that democracy cannot flourish where impunity thrives.
“Accountable governance is the bedrock of national renewal,” Shamima Muslim stressed, adding that institutions must serve as guardians of the people rather than shields for misconduct.
Steps Taken By Government
She pointed to several steps taken by the government to advance accountability. These include rationalising government structures to reduce redundancy and enhance efficiency, and strengthening anti-corruption bodies like the Office of the Special Prosecutor with resources and independence to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing.
The move by the government to create the Government Advisory Council, with a committee chaired by Dr. Valerie Sawyer to lead its establishment, is another measure designed to institutionalise independent policy guidance and reinforce accountability in executive decision-making.
Shamima Muslim also highlighted the introduction of the Public Officers’ Conduct Bill, which aims to entrench ethical leadership and tighten conflict-of-interest rules.
“This is to entrench ethical leadership by ensuring strict compliance with conflicts of interest regulations, including prohibitions on the acceptance of gifts and other inducements that undermine integrity in public service.
“This is not only an ideal. There are examples of its enforcement when the President announced the forfeiture of salaries by appointees who had failed to meet a deadline to submit their asset declaration form. So here we are seeing, in real life, commitment to the ideals enshrined in our own provisions.”
Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Such actions, she argued, demonstrate the government’s willingness to hold itself accountable. In addition, the administration has bolstered the mandate of the Audit Service and stepped up the work of the Independent Emolument Commission to safeguard national assets and cultural heritage from political misuse.
Complementing these efforts is the Operation Recover All Loots initiative, designed to trace and reclaim state resources misappropriated through corruption.
Commitment to Press Freedom and Inclusive Governance
On press freedom, Shamima Muslim reaffirmed President Mahama’s commitment to safeguarding journalists and ensuring media independence as a cornerstone of democracy.
“Our Constitution must continuously uphold the independence and protection of the media, ensuring that journalists can operate without censorship or intimidation,” she said, while also encouraging responsible journalism as a partner in national development.
The Reset Agenda, she explained, also stresses inclusive governance, ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups are empowered to shape policies and monitor their implementation.
Civic education, decentralisation, and technology must be fully harnessed, she argued, to deepen participation. “Democracy must move beyond elections to become part of everyday life,” she added.
Shamima Muslim emphasised that the rights guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution must be reflected in everyday realities. Equality, she said, should mean equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
Freedom must ensure the right to speak, associate, and publish without fear. Justice must be affordable and timely. For this reason, she noted, government spending under the Reset Ghana Agenda has been deliberately targeted at social protection, economic reforms, and inclusive policies to transform constitutional promises into measurable outcomes.
“Democracy must be measured not only in constitutional conviction or election results, but in the jobs created, the justice secured, and the leaders elected”.
Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Calls for Collective Action
In her concluding remarks, she urged all Ghanaians—political leaders, civil society, media, faith-based organisations, and citizens—to take responsibility for ensuring that the Constitution lives up to its democratic promise.
“It is our collective duty to protect the independence of institutions while demanding accountability from those institutions. It is also our responsibility to demand accountability from ourselves”.
Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
She reiterated President Mahama’s conviction that the Constitution must not remain a document to be referenced or lamented over, but a living covenant securing justice, equality, and prosperity for all.
For her, each generation is called to defend the spirit of constitutionality, to resist the erosion of freedoms, and to strengthen the bonds between the state and its citizens.
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