The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has formally inaugurated the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) with a critical mandate: to translate accepted constitutional reform recommendations into legally sound laws and measures for implementation across Ghana.
The 11-member committee, chaired by legal practitioner Marietta Brew, was sworn into office at the Law House in Accra today, August 28th, marking a significant step in Ghana’s ongoing constitutional reforms.
The CRIC comprises a diverse range of expertise, including legal professionals, finance ministers, and representatives from various government agencies. Dr Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney General, Thomas Ampem, Deputy Finance Minister, Charlotte Osei, Dr Rainer Akumperigya, Emelia Ankomah, Samuel Passah, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Salamatu Iliasu, and Eric Owusu-Mensah are all members. The ceremony involved the administration of the official oath and the oath of the Constitution Review Implementation Committee by Dr Ayine.
The committee’s mandate, as outlined by Dr. Ayine, is to provide a comprehensive review of proposed constitutional amendments, particularly those addressing non-entrenched provisions, and to translate these recommendations into practical legislative action. The government has already issued its position paper on the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee and has endorsed a substantial package of constitutional reforms.
The committee’s work is intrinsically linked to the upcoming district assembly elections in 2027, where the proposed constitutional amendments are expected to be subjected to a referendum. Dr. Ayine emphasized the committee’s bipartisan and time-bound approach, stating that it must align government recommendations with the government’s position paper and previous draft Bills.
The committee’s initial task is to ensure that the government’s recommendations are effectively translated into legally binding measures, while also considering the voices of the Ghanaian people through consultations across the country. The committee’s work is fundamentally about ensuring that the Constitution is effectively applied and that the government’s vision for Ghana is realized.
The committee’s mandate extends beyond simply translating recommendations; it involves a careful assessment of the potential impact of each reform, including potential challenges to existing constitutional provisions and the need for parliamentary approval. The committee’s work is focused on the most exacting and crucial aspect: ensuring the drafting of legislation that is both legally sound and strategically aligned with the consultations that have generated the recommendations.
The committee’s composition represents a crucial element of Ghana’s ongoing constitutional reform process, ensuring that the government’s vision for the country is reflected in the legal framework.
Dr. Ayine stated that the committee had been provided with a time-bound mandate and was expected to have the first set of constitutional amendment Bills, particularly those dealing with non-entrenched provisions, ready to be laid before Parliament by November this year. He further highlighted the committee’s crucial role in facilitating a referendum alongside the district assembly elections, ensuring that the proposed amendments are subject to public scrutiny.
This committee’s work is vital because the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee represent the views of Ghanaians gathered through consultations across the country. The committee gave us the voice of the Ghanaian people on questions that touch every one of us, including how long a President should serve, the size of Parliament, how district assemblies should be elected and led, and how the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens should be protected. Dr. Ayine said the country had done its part by stating what it wanted, while the government had also taken a position on the recommendations.
The committee’s mandate includes the amendment of entrenched provisions and, consequently, the need for parliamentary legislation, subsidiary legislation, institutional reforms, and administrative action.
The committee’s work is essential to ensuring that the Constitution remains relevant and effectively reflects the needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
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Source: Graphic Online
