Koforidua: The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) Zonal Public Engagement held in Koforidua has drawn widespread participation, as citizens from across the Eastern Region gathered to share views and suggestions on reforming Ghana's 1992 Constitution.
According to Ghana News Agency, the forum was convened by the Secretariat of the CRC, with support from the Eastern Regional Office of the National Commission for Civic Education, which helped mobilize public participation and solicit views and aspirations on the Constitution. Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister, commended President John Dramani Mahama's decision to establish the Constitution Review Committee to spearhead public discourse on reviewing and refining Ghana's 1992 Constitution.
The Regional Minister highlighted that the 1992 Constitution ushered in Ghana's Fourth Republic and laid the foundation for what had become the longest period of democratic stability in the nation's history. She noted that over the past three decades, the Constitution has safeguarded fundamental human rights, facilitated peaceful political transitions, and anchored institutions. However, as society evolves, so must the foundational legal framework.
She emphasized the relevance of the Constitution's opening clause, citing Article 1(1): 'The sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised.' This principle underscored the importance of the engagement, allowing Ghanaians from all walks of life to contribute to shaping a constitution that reflected collective experiences and aspirations for the future.
Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, addressed the gathering, noting that the forum served as a platform for diverse voices such as academics, youth, professionals, traditional authorities, the marginalized, and the underrepresented to be heard. He stated that through these inclusive deliberations, consensus is deepened, legitimacy is reinforced, and national unity is enhanced. He described the participation in the Koforidua forum as marked by a robust exchange of ideas that echoed those already collected in other regions.