If parties turn Constitution Review into political battle, we’ve lost a once-in-a-generation opportunity – Kwasi Prempeh

Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and Chairperson of the 2025 Constitution Review Committee, has called for Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process to be conducted free from partisan political interests. Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, August, 3, Prof. Prempeh stressed that the country’s Constitution should be treated as a national document that serves both present and future generations, rather than a tool for advancing political agendas.

Prempeh, constitutional reforms must focus on addressing the long-term needs of the country and improving governance, rather than responding to the interests of any particular political party or administration. He emphasised that building public confidence in the review process would require transparency, inclusiveness and a commitment to placing the national interest above political expediency. “One will expect that we do not take into our constitution or make our constitution revision process the kind of habit that we have gotten used to in our everyday politics.

Constitutions are different; they are forward-looking and they last generations “They set the foundational roots of the game on how the country is to be governed, how we recruit our national political leadership, and these things transcend party government; they transcend regimes, and they transcend particular leaders,” he said. He also called on political leaders to “come to this with a certain sense of patriotic obligation.” The Chairperson of the Constitution Review Committee further encouraged Ghanaians to actively participate in the exercise by sharing their views and proposals, saying broad public engagement would help ensure that the revised Constitution reflects the aspirations of the people. The Constitution Review Committee was established to examine Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and recommend reforms to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions, governance framework, and constitutional order.

Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Prof H. Kwasi Prempeh, has urged Ghana’s political class to rise above partisan interests and approach the ongoing constitutional review with a sense of national duty. According to him, the process must produce reforms that will endure beyond the lifespan of any government.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, Prof Prempeh said constitutions are fundamentally different from everyday politics because they are designed to serve generations rather than the interests of governments in power. “Constitutions are different; they are forward-looking. They last at least a generation,” he said, stressing that they establish “the foundational rules of the game” on how the country is governed, political leaders are chosen and removed, and power is distributed.

According to him, those principles go beyond political parties, individual presidents and governments. They transcend particular leaders,” he said. Prof Prempeh expressed hope that political leaders, who he described as the gatekeepers of the review process, would place patriotism ahead of party loyalty because the outcome will shape the country long after current officeholders have left power.