Ghana’s Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) has proposed far-reaching changes to the structure of the Executive, recommending an end to the long-standing practice of appointing Members of Parliament as Ministers and capping the total number of ministers at 57.
The proposals form part of the committee’s final report, which was formally presented to President John Dramani Mahama on December 22, 2025, after nearly eleven months of nationwide consultations and technical review.
The eight-member committee, chaired by constitutional law scholar Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, was tasked with examining weaknesses in the 1992 Constitution and proposing reforms to strengthen accountability, efficiency, and the separation of powers.
One of its most consequential recommendations targets Article 78(1) of the Constitution, which currently allows the President to appoint a majority of ministers from among Members of Parliament. Under the proposed amendment, no Member of Parliament would be eligible for appointment as a Minister of State, Deputy Minister, or Regional Minister.
The committee further recommends that an MP who resigns from Parliament should also be barred from ministerial appointment for the remainder of the parliamentary term for which they were elected. According to the CRC, this safeguard is necessary to prevent circumvention of the rule through strategic resignations.
The committee argues that the fusion of executive and legislative roles has weakened Parliament’s oversight function and blurred the constitutional separation of powers.
By removing MPs from the pool of ministerial appointments, the CRC believes Parliament will be better positioned to hold the Executive accountable without conflicts of interest. At the same time, ministers would be able to focus fully on executive responsibilities without the competing demands of parliamentary duties.
Ministerial Cap at 57
In addition to restructuring eligibility for ministerial appointments, the CRC has proposed a firm cap on the total number of ministers. Citing concerns about the growing size and cost of government, the committee recommends an amendment to Article 78(2) to limit the number of Ministers of State, including Deputy Ministers and Regional Ministers, to no more than three times the number of Cabinet Ministers.
Under Article 76(1) of the Constitution, Cabinet Ministers are capped at a maximum of 19. Applying the proposed multiplier, the total number of Ministers of State would therefore not exceed 57. This ceiling, the committee notes, is intended to promote efficiency, reduce duplication of roles, and contain the financial burden of an expanding Executive.
The CRC further recommends the abolition of Deputy Regional Minister positions, arguing that their roles often overlap with those of Regional Ministers and senior civil servants. In the committee’s view, eliminating these positions would streamline regional administration without undermining governance at the sub-national level.
Room for Exemption and Censure
However, the committee has also made provision for limited flexibility. Where a President believes that exceptional circumstances justify appointing a Minister of State beyond the prescribed ceiling, the CRC recommends that the President be required to submit written reasons to Parliament and obtain prior approval.
Such approval, the report states, should be granted by a simple majority of all Members of Parliament. This mechanism is designed to balance executive discretion with parliamentary oversight.
The Committee also recommends an amendment to Article 82(5) to provide that the President shall revoke the appointment of a Minister against whom Parliament has passed a vote of censure pursuant to clause (1) of Article 82.
The Committee further recommends, as a companion amendment, that a Minister whose appointment is revoked as a result of having been censured by Parliament shall not be eligible for re-appointment as Minister during the remainder of the President’s or Parliament’s term.
The submission of the CRC’s final report marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s constitutional reform process. Professor Prempeh and his colleagues conducted extensive consultations across the country, engaging citizens, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, political parties, and public institutions.
The committee also reviewed comparative constitutional practices and assessed the operational challenges that have emerged since the 1992 Constitution came into force.
President Mahama, in receiving the report, acknowledged the breadth of work undertaken by the committee and announced that a dedicated Implementation Committee would be established in early 2026.
The mandate of this body will be to study the recommendations and chart a clear path toward constitutional amendments, including determining which proposals require referenda and which can be enacted through parliamentary processes.
Public Debate
The recommendation to end the MP-minister system is likely to provoke intense political debate, as the arrangement has been a defining feature of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. Supporters argue that it enhances coordination between the Executive and Legislature, while critics say it undermines Parliament’s independence.
The CRC’s proposals firmly align with the latter view, prioritising institutional checks and balances over political convenience. Similarly, the proposed cap on ministers responds to longstanding public criticism of what many see as bloated governments under successive administrations.
By tying the total number of ministers to the constitutionally defined size of Cabinet, the CRC aims to introduce predictability and restraint into executive appointments.
While the recommendations do not in themselves change the Constitution, they set the stage for what could become the most significant constitutional amendments in decades. As the government moves toward implementation, the proposals will test political will, public consensus, and the balance of power between Ghana’s branches of government.
For now, the CRC’s report provides a clear blueprint for reform, signalling a decisive shift toward a leaner Executive and a more independent Parliament, should its recommendations be adopted.
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