Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has urged members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to show great interest in the ongoing National Constitution Review exercise. The President made the appeal when a delegation of the GBA, led by its National President, Mrs. Efua Ghartey, paid him a courtesy call at the Presidency in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama noted that the Constitutional Review process began under the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills, with the commissioning of the Fiadjo Committee. After the Fiadjo Committee released its report, the Government issued a White Paper and subsequently established the Constitution Review Implementation Committee to begin implementing the Constitutional Review. A challenge in the Supreme Court delayed the process until the end of 2015. Due to the election year in 2016, the Government left the continuation of the Constitutional Review to the next administration. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo later set up another Constitutional Review Committee, which presented its report at the end of 2024.
President Mahama stated that he received the report after the election and included it with the Fiadjo Committee report and the White Paper for a constitutional validation exercise. His administration currently has the two Constitutional Committee reports for the new Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, for validation. The Committee is engaging different groups, including the Ghana Bar Association, to gather input on the constitutional amendments.
The President expressed the hope that the GBA would participate and provide input on the constitutional amendments. Once the Committee presents its report, it will be circulated widely, and a roadmap for implementation will be developed. For non-controversial issues and non-entrenched clauses, the Government plans to pass them, while bipartisan agreements in Parliament will be sought for more controversial, entrenched clauses.
President Mahama emphasized that the amendments would strengthen the constitution, addressing loopholes and reinforcing it as a living document underpinning the survival of the Fourth Republic. He praised the 1992 Constitution as one of Ghana's best documents, attributing it to the sustained survival of the Fourth Republic, and anticipated that the amendments would create a stronger foundation for democracy.
Addressing corruption and accountability, President Mahama acknowledged that corruption was a major concern in the last election and emphasized the need for a stronger fight against it. The establishment of the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) aims to facilitate whistleblowers in reporting corruption for investigation. The President has handed the ORAL Committee's report to the Attorney-General for further action, reiterating that ORAL is not a tool for witch-hunting but a means to combat corruption.
The President also stressed the Government's commitment to human rights protection and the investigation of significant unresolved killings, urging authorities to actively pursue cases like Ahmed Suale's killing. He mentioned other murder cases, such as J.B Dankwa Adu's, and called for expedited investigations and prosecutions.
President Mahama dismissed perceptions of animosity between the Government and the legal fraternity, affirming open communication and collaboration. He highlighted the Government's commitment to completing the construction of courthouses nationwide and acknowledged the GBA as a prominent advocate for the rule of law and human rights.
Mrs. Efua Ghartey, President of the GBA, congratulated President Mahama on his Election 2024 victory and announced the hosting of the Africa Bar Conference in Accra from October 19th to 23rd, 2025. An official invitation will be extended to President Mahama in due time. The National Bar Conference will precede this event from September 14th to 19th in Wa, Upper West Region.
