Accra, Ghana – An increasing number of Ghanaians are taking ownership of the country’s constitutional reform process, recognizing that the current system limits the nation’s potential and perpetuates dysfunctional politics.
In an interview during the official launch of the CSOs Platform for Constitutional Reforms in Accra, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the convenor of the Democracy Hub, revealed that it is the people—rather than politicians—who have been the driving force behind the ongoing conversation about reform.
“The reason why the conversation about constitutional review has not faded is that the people we consider to be lay have refused to let it go,” he said, adding, “They have diagnosed our politics and concluded that it is limited, producing dysfunction and partisanship that is not helping.”
Mr. Barker-Vormawor, a veteran lawyer, emphasized that the ideas for constitutional reform are organic and emerging from the communities themselves. However, these efforts have been dispersed and lack coordination, highlighting the need for a more systematic approach to engage citizens outside of government frameworks.
“This is an attempt to coordinate and bring people together,” he said, stressing, “We have to be systematic in how we engage outside the government framework; people themselves must be able to follow these initiatives to ensure their success. This is a challenge for all of us.”
He expressed optimism that the momentum for constitutional reform will continue, driven by this grassroots movement. “I am pleased that we are having this conversation, and I hope we can maintain the momentum and determination needed to push this through.”
Mr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, the Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at CDD, observed that the current system fails to give citizens a meaningful voice in decision-making. This has led to poor governance, where leaders focus more on maintaining power than on serving the needs of the people.
He further highlighted that this situation has eroded trust between citizens and the government, leaving many feeling disenfranchised and disconnected from the decision-making process.
Report By: Ishmael Barfi
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
