Constitutional activist Oliver Barker Vormawor has renewed calls for Ghana to adopt a new constitution, arguing that the current amendment framework is overly complex and restricts meaningful reform.
Speaking on Point of View with Bernard Avle, Vormawor said attempts to reform the 1992 Constitution have long stalled because of procedural hurdles rather than disagreements over content. He pointed to proposals that introduce a new “semi-entrenched” category of constitutional provisions as a practical solution.
Under the proposal, provisions that were previously entrenched would be moved into a second tier, requiring a 75 per cent parliamentary majority for amendment, instead of a national referendum. Sections that already require a two-thirds parliamentary majority would remain unchanged.
Vormawor said the approach resolves a long-standing dilemma over how to amend entrenched clauses without repeatedly resorting to costly and complex national votes. He noted that discussions on constitutional reform often focus on what should change, while overlooking the more fundamental question of how change can be achieved.
“Our argument has been that Ghana needs a new constitution that bundles these issues together and presents one comprehensive document to voters,” he said.
He described the proposal as a technical “workaround” that unlocks deeper structural reforms and simplifies the amendment process. Without such changes, Vormawor warned, efforts to amend the constitution risk becoming unworkable due to the complexity of presenting multiple reform questions to the electorate.
He said the proposal could prove to be the most significant recommendation in ongoing constitutional review discussions.