The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) is intensifying efforts to ensure that grassroots voices are meaningfully included in the Constitution Review Committee’s (CRC) nationwide consultations.
The initiative follows the CRC’s launch of zonal consultations across the country aimed at engaging ordinary citizens in the ongoing review process.
At a recent workshop at IDEG’s Greater Accra office, civil society groups, women-led organisations, and community leaders from eight regions- including Bono, Central, Eastern, Oti, Greater Accra, Western, Western North, and Volta— convened to build their capacity on the constitutional review process.
The session focused on strengthening their advocacy skills and ensuring effective grassroots participation in upcoming national consultations.
Participants were trained on the CRC’s mandate, the review structure, and how to craft community-driven proposals for meaningful input during regional engagements.
Mr. Kwesi Jonah, IDEG’s Head of Advocacy and Institutional Relations, stressed the importance of people-led reforms.
“We believe that true constitutional reform must be driven by the people, not just those in power,” he said.
“Therefore, our engagement with community representatives is to ensure that civil society and community leaders go into these zonal consultations fully equipped to represent the concerns of ordinary people who would not get the opportunity to participate in the meeting,” he added.
IDEG’s intervention, funded by Oxfam under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Citizen Engagement in Ghana’s Constitutional Review Process,” aims to strengthen inclusive and representative participation.
Participants welcomed the initiative to demystify the review process.
Nana Benin, a representative from Western North Region, noted: “Many of us know what’s not working in our communities; we live it every day. Therefore, if we are given the opportunity, we will speak to make things better.”
A youth participant added,” When the Constitution was made, some of us weren’t even born. This is our chance to shape the future by addressing our concerns.”