The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s approach to the proposed amendments to the 1992 Constitution, arguing that the changes being pursued go beyond a review and could significantly alter Ghana’s existing constitutional framework.
NPP Policy Committee Chairman and Ofoase/Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has called for broader stakeholder consultations before the government proceeds with the proposed constitutional amendments.
“The New Patriotic Party therefore rejects this approach being pursued by the NDC in essentially rewriting the 1992 Constitution”, he said.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah said the Constitution Review Committee has proposed changes to 147 out of the Constitution’s 299 articles, representing roughly 49 per cent of the document, alongside 59 additional provisions.
He maintained that the extent of the proposed changes goes beyond what would ordinarily be considered a constitutional amendment.
“Amendment of 147 articles out of 299 articles, together with 59 new provisions, that is 206 reaching into the executive, the legislature, independent constitutional bodies, and local government is not just an adjustment to some provisions of the constitution; they amount to the overhaul of the constitution and, in substance, the enactment of a new one”, he said.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah also expressed concern over what he described as major differences between the government’s position and the recommendations presented by the Constitution Review Committee.
He alleged that the government had replaced its own proposals with about 100 of the 147 recommendations submitted by the independent committee set up by the President.
According to him, the government has brought the consultation phase to an end and directed its implementation committee to proceed with drafting the proposals without further negotiations. He said November 2026 has been set as the target for the first amendment.
He said the NPP is concerned about the absence of a formal platform for political parties, Organised Labour, professional associations and other relevant groups to engage in discussions on the disputed issues.
The former Information Minister noted that Ghana’s constitutional processes in 1969, 1979 and 1992 followed a similar approach, with expert recommendations subjected to further deliberation by broad and representative assemblies before being adopted into law.
“First, the work of an expert is deliberated and settled upon by a broad and representative assembly and only then given the force of law. This was done in 1969, in 1979 and in 1992 and this is what we are calling on the government to respect now”,he said.
The NPP is therefore urging the government to present a Constituent or Consultative Assembly Bill to Parliament to provide a formal platform for broader deliberations on the proposed constitutional changes.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah said such a mechanism would also create an avenue to address and reconcile the more than 100 points of disagreement between the government and the Constitution Review Committee.
The NPP says broader consultations are necessary to ensure that any changes to the 1992 Constitution reflect consensus among key stakeholders. The party maintains that a formal deliberative process would help address outstanding disagreements and provide greater public participation before any amendments are considered.
