The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has called on political leaders, civil society groups, and the wider public to unite in breaking a 12-year stalemate on constitutional reforms, stressing that broad national consensus is critical to protecting Ghana’s democratic gains.
In a statement issued on January 7 to mark Constitution Day and Ghana’s 34th uninterrupted year of constitutional governance, IDEG cautioned that prolonged delays in reforming the 1992 Constitution have revealed deep-seated structural flaws in the country’s democratic system.
The policy think tank observed that successive administrations across four electoral cycles—from 2012 to 2025—have failed to implement key recommendations from constitutional review processes. This, it said, is largely due to weak consensus-building and the lack of a permanent, independent institutional mechanism to drive reform.
IDEG warned that these trends pose a serious risk to Ghana’s democratic consolidation and its reputation as a stabilising democratic force in the sub-region. It pointed to declining public confidence in multiparty democracy, increasing support for military intervention, and growing frustration among young people over what they perceive as unresponsive governance.
The institute praised President John Dramani Mahama for the prompt public release of the Constitution Review Committee’s report, describing the move as a positive signal of transparency and inclusiveness in the reform process.
According to IDEG, the real protection of Ghana’s democracy depends on a shared commitment to good governance, inclusion, justice, and national unity, rather than divisive politics. It emphasised that nation-building is a collective effort and warned that the country cannot afford to waste time on avoidable conflicts given the urgency of current challenges and opportunities.
IDEG concluded that implementing long-delayed constitutional reforms is essential to rebuilding public trust, deepening civic participation, and strengthening institutional accountability. Failure to act decisively, it cautioned, could further weaken confidence in democratic institutions—especially among the youth—posing risks to Ghana’s long-term political stability.
