The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for the establishment of a Constituent Assembly to deliberate on proposed changes to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution before the reforms proceed to a referendum.
Speaking at a press conference, Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Honourable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, argued that broader stakeholder participation is necessary to build confidence in the final proposals.
Honourable Nkrumah explained that constitutional reform should involve political parties, organised labour, professional bodies, traditional authorities and other identifiable groups whose views would contribute to the process. He contended that the absence of such a platform could leave important disagreements unresolved before the proposals reach voters.
Turning to the NPP’s preferred approach, the Ofoase-Ayirebi MP proposed a formal deliberative body that would bring the different stakeholders together. He urged the Government to establish the assembly through legislation and provide a clear timetable for its work.
“Set up the constituent assembly, give the country a timetable that it is asking for, then take the outcome to the people. Do that, and the NPP and other parties will be willing partners.”
Honourable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Referencing Ghana’s constitutional history, Mr Oppong Nkrumah pointed to the processes that preceded the 1969, 1979 and 1992 Constitutions. He argued that those experiences demonstrated the importance of moving from expert recommendations to broader deliberation before constitutional proposals receive legal effect.
The former Information Minister stressed that the Constitution belongs to Ghanaians and should therefore not be treated as the property of any political party. He argued that its amendment requires a process capable of attracting participation and acceptance across the political and social spectrum.
Reflecting on the stakeholders involved in earlier consultations, the NPP Policy Committee Chairman urged Government to listen to organised labour, civil society groups, traditional leaders, professionals, students, traders and farmers. He also called for engagement with the NPP and other political parties as part of the next stage.
The NPP’s call comes as Government advances the implementation of recommendations from the Constitution Review Committee. Government has already inaugurated an 11-member Constitution Review Implementation Committee to examine its position paper alongside the committee’s report and develop an implementation framework.
Honourable Nkrumah reiterated that political parties should not be viewed solely as opponents in the constitutional process. Instead, he presented their participation as necessary to create a framework that could endure beyond changes in government.
NPP Signals Support For Consensus On Constitutional Reforms
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has indicated that it is prepared to support some proposed constitutional reforms if Government adopts a more inclusive process for considering the recommendations. Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Honourable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, explained that the party’s position does not amount to opposition to every proposal emerging from the constitutional review exercise.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah disclosed that the NPP had identified recommendations it could support alongside others on which it holds different views. He argued that these positions could be properly examined through a deliberative process involving political parties and other stakeholders.
Turning to the proposed referendum, the NPP Policy Committee Chairman cautioned against treating public approval as something that could simply be secured through a drafting exercise. He stressed that voters would require confidence that the proposals had undergone adequate national discussion before they were asked to make a decision.
“We want Ghanaians to vote in a referendum confident that what they are voting for has been argued over and agreed by the people that they trust to represent them.”
Honourable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Referencing the wider constitutional process, Mr Oppong Nkrumah argued that the Constitution should remain a national document capable of surviving successive administrations. He warned that a process perceived as being driven primarily by the governing party could create divisions around reforms intended to shape the country’s long-term governance.
The Ofoase Ayirebi MP therefore urged Government to broaden its engagement with stakeholders before finalising the proposals. He specifically mentioned organised labour, civil society, traditional authorities, professional associations, students, traders and farmers as groups whose views should remain part of the process.
Reflecting on the role of political parties, he called for the NPP and other parties to be engaged as participants in the constitutional exercise. He explained that their involvement should focus on finding areas of agreement while allowing legitimate differences to be openly considered.
The NPP’s position comes amid continuing discussions over the Government’s response to the Constitution Review Committee’s recommendations. The committee’s report contains 206 proposals, comprising 147 amendments to existing provisions and 59 new provisions, while Government has separately set out its position on the recommendations.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah further argued that a constitutional process should not be rushed simply to meet a predetermined deadline. He linked public confidence in the eventual referendum to the quality of deliberation that precedes it.
The NPP has therefore presented itself as willing to participate if the process is broadened. Its position is that areas of agreement can be supported while disagreements are subjected to further consultation before the final proposals are presented to Ghanaians.
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