President John Dramani Mahama has explained the constitutional requirements that must be met before proposed amendments to Ghana’s entrenched constitutional provisions can take effect.
According to the President, such amendments require approval by Parliament as well as a national referendum organised by the Electoral Commission.
Addressing a community engagement at the University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) in the Upper West Region, President Mahama said the referendum process is designed to ensure that constitutional changes enjoy broad national support.
He explained that at least 40 per cent of registered voters must participate in the referendum, while 75 per cent of those who vote must approve the proposed amendment.
President Mahama said the high threshold was intended to promote national consensus and prevent major constitutional decisions from being determined solely along partisan lines.
He said the Constitutional Review Committee had completed its work and submitted its report, after which government issued its official position paper.
The President said the newly established Constitutional Review Implementation Committee is now responsible for translating the recommendations into legislative proposals.
He explained that proposed changes involving non-entrenched provisions would require parliamentary approval, while changes to entrenched provisions would trigger the more demanding referendum process.
President Mahama disclosed that government intended to combine the constitutional referendum with next year’s District Assembly elections.
He said the arrangement would help reduce the cost of organising the exercise while potentially increasing public participation.
The President said the constitutional review process is part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s democratic and governance institutions and ensure that reforms reflected the wishes of the Ghanaian people.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭