Story: Reuben Sackey 

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has welcomed the establishment of the Constitution Review Committee by President John Dramani Mahama, applauding the move as a significant step towards improving governance in Ghana. 

The committee, tasked with making actionable recommendations for constitutional amendments, has been sworn in by the President, who assured its members that their work would not be in vain.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Policy, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, PPP expressed satisfaction with the swift establishment of the committee, interpreting it as a demonstration of President Mahama’s commitment to the constitutional review process. 

The PPP in the statement  commended the President’s selection of committee members, acknowledging their expertise and dedication to national service and good governance.

The statement  recalled the President’s 2013 engagement with the Coalition of Election of MMDCEs, which the party led, to discuss a petition advocating for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). 

The party reiterated its long-standing support for constitutional reforms and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the committee, led by Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, to discuss its proposals.

Key areas of constitutional amendments proposed by the PPP include:

•The election of all MMDCEs and district assembly members by universal adult suffrage, with at least 30% of consolidated funds allocated directly to district assemblies without executive interference.

•A clear separation of Parliament from the Executive, requiring Members of Parliament who accept ministerial positions to relinquish their seats.

•The separation of the Office of the Attorney-General from the Minister of Justice to ensure independence from executive influence.

•The establishment of a transparent and enforceable assets declaration regime with penalties for false declarations.

•Full participation of Ghanaians in the diaspora in the nation’s political process.

The PPP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the constitutional review process and expressed optimism about working closely with the committee to ensure meaningful reforms as part of President Mahama’s broader agenda to reset Ghana’s governance structure.