NPP and Legal Experts Clash Over Proposed Constituent Assembly for 2025 Constitutional Reforms

The implementation of the 2025 Constitution Review Committee (CRC) recommendations has become a central point of political friction in Ghana, as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and legal experts debate the proper process for amending the 1992 Constitution. The NPP, led by Chairman Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, is demanding the establishment of a Constituent Assembly to deliberate on 206 proposed changes affecting the Executive, Parliament, and Judiciary before any referendum is held. The party argues that such a broad national consensus is necessary to ensure the amendments reflect a collective agreement rather than the preferences of a single political entity, especially given the significant differences between the government's stance and the original CRC recommendations.

However, this demand for a special assembly has met stiff resistance from legal practitioners and constitutional experts. Former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini has publicly questioned the legal necessity of a Constituent or Consultative Assembly, asserting that the current constitutional framework already outlines clear procedures for amendments that culminate in Parliament. Speaking on "The Big Issue" in September 2026, Fuseini argued that a Consultative Assembly is only constitutionally relevant if the nation intended to draft an entirely new constitution. He suggested that the NPP’s proposal may be legally misguided, as the existing document does not require such a body for modifications to the current framework.

Beyond the procedural debate, the substance of the reforms—particularly regarding local governance—remains a major point of contention. While the government has accepted many CRC reforms, it has modified key recommendations concerning the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). The government’s proposed model would see the President nominate candidates before a public election, a move critics describe as "presidential gatekeeping." This approach has been criticized for maintaining centralized control and failing to provide genuine downward accountability to citizens, potentially complicating the electoral calendar without empowering local communities.

As the Mahama administration navigates these reforms, the tension between calls for a broad-based Constituent Assembly and the standard parliamentary amendment process highlights a deeper struggle over the future of Ghana's decentralization. The outcome of these discussions will determine whether the 2025 review leads to a more democratic local governance system or merely reshapes existing authority dynamics. With 206 proposed changes on the table, the path toward a national referendum remains fraught with questions about stakeholder participation and the legal integrity of the amendment process.