President Mahama Promises Swift Action on Constitutional Reforms, Implementation Committee by Early 2026

President John Dramani Mahama has pledged immediate action on recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee, announcing plans to establish an implementation body in early 2025 to begin enacting what he called “quite revolutionary” and “quite radical” 

changes to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

In his remarks after receiving the committee’s report on Monday, President Mahama said the time for review has passed and the focus now shifts to implementation.

“As soon as we resume early next year, we’re moving from the constitutional review process into the implementation process.

“Early next year we’ll announce an implementation committee, and of course we’re going to call some of you to come and serve on that committee,” he said. 

The President revealed one major reform proposal: reducing presidential appointment powers by giving the Council of State a larger role in selecting government officials. 

Under the proposed system, he explained, the Council would identify and vet candidates, while the President would retain the authority to sign appointment letters.

“I believe that the Council of State’s giving a bigger role in those appointments will create more credibility in terms of people who are appointed to those positions,” President Mahama said.

He framed the reforms as urgent, pointing to democratic backsliding across West Africa and surveys showing Ghanaians losing confidence in democratic governance.

“Currently in our subregion we can see many countries backsliding with regards to their democratic and constitutional governance. And so this couldn’t have come at a better time,” the President said, referencing Afrobarometer reports indicating declining public faith in democracy.

President Mahama defended democratic governance against what he termed “the romanticism of military governments,” arguing that only democracy “unleashes the creative potential of people” by allowing citizens freedom to express themselves and conduct their businesses.

He emphasized that reforms would proceed on a bipartisan basis, with all political parties working together to implement as many provisions as possible.

According to President Mahama, the constitutional review represents a breakthrough for Ghana. 

He noted that previous attempts at constitutional reform failed when committees could not agree on how to proceed. 

This time, he said, the committee was “chosen very carefully” to ensure Ghanaians would trust its work as non-partisan and free from political influence.

“Our 1992 constitution has served us very well. I mean, it’s been the most durable constitution, but a time comes when you need to look at it and make some adjustments so that it can serve us for an even longer period going into the future,” he said.

The President indicated the report would not remain confidential, saying his administration would “decide on a date to publish it so that all Ghanaians know what is in the summary while we wait for the actual detailed copy.”

He added that he had received a preview presentation of some recommendations before Monday’s formal submission. 

President Mahama said he handed the report to his legal counsel and Attorney General for review and to “synchronize our views” before moving forward.

President Mahama thanked committee members for their months of work, telling them to “enjoy your Christmas” before some are recalled for implementation duties in the new year.

“On behalf of the people of Ghana, you have done a great service to our nation and you can be proud of yourselves,” he told the committee.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD