Public Education Crucial for Constitutional Reforms — IDEG Director
IDEG urges citizen engagement and media involvement to drive successful constitutional changes
- Dr. Akwetey calls for stronger public education to support constitutional reforms.
- Warns Parliament may not act without informed citizen pressure.
- Urges media and citizens to promote understanding and avoid partisan decision-making.
The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, has stressed the need for intensified public education to ensure the successful passage of proposed constitutional reforms in Ghana.
He described the reform process as vital to strengthening the country’s democratic framework, warning that without sustained public awareness and engagement, it would be difficult to build the consensus required in Parliament to approve the changes.
Dr. Akwetey made the remarks at a press conference in Accra organised by the Citizen Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR), a coalition of about 80 civil society, professional, and academic groups advocating transparency and urgency in the reform process.
He emphasised that public education at all levels—local, district, regional, and national—would play a decisive role in driving the reforms forward. According to him, Parliament alone cannot be relied upon to act without informed public pressure.
“You cannot assume Parliament will be united on this without deliberate effort. Yet, this is clearly in the national interest,” he noted.
Call for citizen participation
Dr. Akwetey urged citizens to take an active interest in the reform proposals by understanding their purpose and engaging their Members of Parliament (MPs) to act in the country’s best interest.
He also highlighted the importance of the media in making the reforms accessible to the general public, expressing concern that current explanations are often too technical.
“The media must simplify these issues and bridge the gap between MPs and their constituents,” he said.
Avoiding past setbacks
Reflecting on previous unsuccessful attempts to review the 1992 Constitution, Dr. Akwetey cautioned against repeating history. He urged stakeholders to seize the current opportunity to implement meaningful reforms.
“It would be a major achievement if we succeed this time. After more than three decades, we must strengthen our democratic foundations and move forward,” he stated.
Promoting informed decision-making
He further encouraged journalists to lead efforts in fostering informed public debate, stressing that decisions on the reforms should be based on understanding rather than political allegiance.
“Citizens must not vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ along partisan lines but based on informed engagement,” he said.
Dr. Akwetey expressed optimism that with strong public education and active media involvement, the ongoing reform process could become a historic milestone in Ghana’s democratic development.
Background
The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) submitted its report to President John Mahama in December last year. However, the government is yet to release a position paper or establish an implementation committee to guide the next phase of the reforms.
