The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) commenced deliberations with experts on possible constitutional reforms, focusing on Lands and Natural Resources as well as Decentralization and Local Gov’t & Chieftaincy earlier this week.
These deliberations, initiated as the first sectors for the committee’s review, began on March 18, 2025, and concluded with several areas categorized under set goals to be assessed after zonal engagements scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
Appointed by President John Dramani Mahama, the committee chairman, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, expressed his commitment to making the process as open as possible. Speaking to happyghana.com on the first day of deliberations, he emphasized the significance of Lands and Natural Resources as the “base of Ghana’s sustenance.” He stated, “When we are talking about development, how we govern this resource, how we exploit it, what benefits we get from it is very important.”
Throughout the week, legal experts and mineral resource specialists shared insights, including Former Chief Justice Sophia Akufo, Professor Kwame Gyan, and Professor Steve Manteaw.
The week’s deliberations concluded with a review of constitutional provisions related to Decentralization and Local Gov’t & Chieftaincy. Key insights were delivered by the Director of the Institute of Local Governance, Dr. Esther Offei-Aboagye, who emphasized integrating checks and balances throughout the sector and assigning practical roles to Regional Coordinating Councils.
In an interview with happyghana.com, the CRC’s Project Coordinator, Kwaku Antwi Boasiako, discussed the committee’s progress. He highlighted a key takeaway from the deliberations on mineral resources, stating, “With regards to mineral resources, one big takeaway is that mining companies will always find ways of reducing the margin of profit that they declare, and so if the government is focusing so much on earning corporate income tax from mining companies, the country is going to get short-changed. Ghana should rather focus on royalties.”
The committee will continue with these deliberations on Monday, March 24, 2025. According to reports from happyghana.com, the constitutional review process is expected to last one month, with approximately 15 days dedicated to stakeholder and public engagements for the latter.
By: Kobina Baidoo
