The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, inaugurated an 11-member Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) on Friday, August 28, in Accra. This pivotal committee, chaired by Presidential Legal Counsel and former Attorney-General, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, represents a significant step in Ghana’s ongoing constitutional reform process. The committee’s mandate, as announced by the government, is to translate existing constitutional proposals into legally enforceable laws.
The CRIC was established following the release of a position paper from the Constitution Review Committee chaired by Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, which outlined a series of recommendations for revisions to the 1992 Constitution. Dr. Ayine emphasized the importance of a bipartisan and time-bound approach, stating that the committee’s initial timeline necessitates the completion of at least 12 constitutional amendment bills by November 2026. These bills, he explained, will eventually be subjected to a referendum alongside upcoming district assembly elections.
The committee’s members include experienced legal professionals, including Dr. Justice Srem Sai, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, Charlotte Osei, Dr. Rainer Akumperigya, Emelia Ankomah, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Samuel Passah, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Salamatu Iliasu, and Eric Owusu-Mensah. Dr. Brew Appiah-Oppong, Chairperson of the CRIC, stressed the committee’s understanding of the weighty responsibility of its task, specifically focusing on transforming existing recommendations into workable measures rather than revisiting the broader 1992 Constitution. The committee will meticulously document all decisions, activities, and expenditures, culminating in a comprehensive implementation roadmap, a legislative and referendum calendar, and a system for tracking the status of each accepted recommendation.
Government has underscored its unwavering commitment to a transparent and inclusive constitutional review process, stating that it reflects the aspirations of the Ghanaian people and strengthens democratic governance. The inauguration of the CRIC signifies a crucial moment in Ghana’s journey toward strengthening its legal framework and ensuring continued democratic stability. The committee’s work is expected to significantly influence the direction of constitutional reform in the nation.
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Source: Adom Online
