The NPP Deputy Secretary, Haruna Mohammed has urged the government to release its White Paper on the Constitutional Review Committee recommendations before making public statements on reforms affecting Ghana’s local governance system. He argued that the absence of an official government position makes it difficult for citizens to understand the direction being pursued on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.
The Deputy Secretary explained that constitutional review processes require governments to formally respond through a White Paper after receiving recommendations from commissions or committees established for national reforms. According to him, such a document would provide a clear basis for public discussion and allow stakeholders to properly examine the government’s proposals.
“The government must come out with a White Paper so that we know and critique the issues they are bringing out, and Ghanaians will understand the direction they want to go.”
Haruna Mohammed
Mr Mohammed questioned why the administration of President John Mahama has yet to present its official response to the recommendations submitted by the Constitutional Review Committee. He noted that public engagements without a formal position create uncertainty about the government’s actual plans for the local government system.
Addressing the debate on the election of MMDCEs, the NPP Deputy Secretary recalled that the proposal was part of discussions initiated by his party during its time in government. He explained that the issue received parliamentary attention under the previous administration before the current governing party opposed the move.
From his perspective, the NPP Deputy Secretary stressed that governance reforms require openness and detailed explanations from authorities. He called for a comprehensive document that would outline the government’s position instead of relying on brief public communications.
Five Year Presidency Proposal Sparks Fresh Governance Debate
The NPP Deputy Secretary, Haruna Mohammed also questioned the proposal to extend Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary terms from four years to five years, arguing that the recommendation requires deeper consideration before any constitutional change takes place. He referenced previous discussions involving former President John Kufuor and President John Mahama while assessing the possible impact of the proposed extension.
Mr Mohammed recalled that former President Kufuor previously suggested a review of the presidential term duration, a proposal he indicated received opposition from the National Democratic Congress at the time. According to him, the current conversation requires consistency from political actors who previously held different positions on the matter.
“The four years that we have is enough. I do not think we should extend it to five years because it may not be sustainable.”
Haruna Mohammed
The Deputy Secretary further cited comments previously associated with President John Mahama, explaining that the President earlier supported the existing four year presidential arrangement. He therefore questioned the basis for reconsidering the duration of presidential tenure under the current constitutional review discussions.
The debate over extending political office terms is part of recommendations presented through the Constitutional Review process, which seeks to examine aspects of Ghana’s governance framework. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, led government engagements on several constitutional matters following the presentation of recommendations from the review process.
Addressing the wider constitutional reform agenda, the Attorney General outlined government’s commitment to examining recommendations that seek to strengthen democratic institutions and improve governance structures. The process includes considerations on local governance, executive authority and other areas requiring constitutional amendments.
Furthermore, discussions around the presidential term extension have attracted views from different political actors, with some highlighting the need for longer periods to enable governments to complete development programmes. Others have argued that maintaining the current arrangement provides regular opportunities for citizens to assess elected leaders through periodic elections.
Analysing the issue, Mr Mohammed directed attention to the importance of ensuring that constitutional changes serve the interests of citizens and receive broad public understanding. He emphasised that any amendment must follow the appropriate legal procedures and receive careful evaluation before implementation.
In addition, the NPP Deputy Secretary questioned aspects of the proposed local governance reforms, including suggestions concerning the appointment and election processes for MMDCEs. He argued that government must provide detailed explanations on how such arrangements would operate within Ghana’s democratic system.
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