Constitutional review not panacea to our numerous problems-Legal Practitioner

A private legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw has called on Ghanaians to exercise caution and restraint relative to their demand for a review of the 1992 constitution.

He notes that the Constitution 1992 did not come by itself but by the people thus we should not assume that having a review will necessarily give us a solution to our many problems as a country.

Lawyer Ampaw made this known when he spoke at the launch of the “Active Citizenship Strategy” organized by STAR-GHANA Foundation in Accra on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, on the theme: “Fostering Innovative Models of Active Citizenship for inclusion and Sustainable Development in Ghana”.

Additionally, the legal practitioner noted that the numerous calls for a review may lead us into getting what we never thought.

He mentioned also that despite the issues people have with the Constitution, it has aspects that we are enjoying as a country.

There have been calls by various interested groups, and individuals for a review of the over 30-year-old Constitution of Ghana.

As a result, a Constitutional Review Commission was set up in January 2010 to consult with the people of Ghana on the recommendation for changes to be made to the Constitution, 1992 after which a Government White paper was passed, still awaiting a referendum.

However, Mr. Ampaw noted that for the Constitution 1992 to function effectively, there ought to be a restructuring of political parties in Ghana and the whole mindset and thinking of the people because unless these groups especially the political parties changed their culture, a review would achieve nothing.

Moreover, he suggested strategic planning should there be the need to review any aspect or even the entire constitution of Ghana

Other dignitaries present, who also spoke at the event were Mr. Charles Abugre, Vice-Chair of STAR-Ghana Foundation, and Mr. Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive of the Bulk Oil Distributors