Citizens Call for Inclusion in Constitutional Review Process

Tamale: Participants at a civic engagement conference on governance and institutional reforms have called for greater inclusion of grassroots voices in Ghana's constitutional review process. They warned that the dominance of political elites and urban stakeholders could undermine the legitimacy and impact of the review.According to Ghana News Agency, the concerns were raised at a public engagement workshop at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, Northern Region. It was organised by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), with support from Oxfam under the theme: 'Bridging the Gap: Citizen Engagement in Ghana's Constitutional Review Process.' The event aimed to empower citizens, particularly from underserved communities, to actively participate in shaping governance and institutional reforms.Delivering a keynote address, Professor Kwesi Jonah, Head of Advocacy and Institutional Relations at IDEG, stressed that calls for constitutional review resonated across all levels of society, and not just among political actors in Accra. 'The voices of the grassroots must be heard; their experiences and frustrations must shape the reforms,' he said.Participants, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities from various districts across Northern Ghana, expressed concern about limited public awareness of the Constitutional Review Committee's activities. Many were unaware of upcoming zonal public hearings. 'We've been here but haven't heard any news about any committee coming to engage citizens,' lamented one participant, who echoed widespread fears of exclusion.The workshop featured a practical capacity-building session, equipping participants to draft and present position papers to strengthen citizen advocacy and ensure local perspectives are formally communicated to the review committee. Facilitators provided strategic guidance on articulating policy demands and constructively engaging decision-makers.Beyond constitutional issues, attendees voiced frustrations about ongoing developm ent challenges, particularly regarding public service delivery. Many argued that meaningful constitutional reform must address systemic governance gaps at the local level. The event reinforced that constitutional change must reflect the lived realities and aspirations of all citizens.