People want constitutional reforms; our politics is not delivering the development promised – Dr Asante

The Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, says there is a growing demand among Ghanaians for constitutional reforms.

He argues that the country’s current political system has failed to deliver the level of development citizens were promised.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Law, in a discussion on constitutional reform and efforts to bridge Ghana’s political divide, Dr Asante said people from all walks of life increasingly recognise the need to strengthen the country’s governance system.

“I think what is clear if you go around the country is that people want change. Our politics is not delivering the development promise that we want,” he said on Sunday, November 1.

According to him, the demand for change cuts across different sections of society, including young people, civil society organisations and professionals.

“Everybody, it doesn't matter their background,” he said, noting that youth groups associated with the constitutional reform process were actively engaging students across the country.

Dr Asante said even young people in secondary schools have expressed concerns about the current state of the country’s governance and political system.

“If you even listen to people in secondary schools, they know that what we have is not good,” he stated.

He, however, acknowledged that Ghana’s current constitutional system has served the country for more than three decades, but said there was now a rare opportunity to strengthen it to better meet the country’s development needs.

“We have at least—it has served us well for over three decades. I think we have a rare opportunity to strengthen it so that it can continue to serve us well,” he said.

With Ghana set to mark 70 years of independence next year, Dr Asante said successfully advancing the constitutional reform process would be a fitting milestone for the country.

“Given that next year will be 70 years of independence, I think it would be a befitting birthday present if we're able to get it past this time around,” he added.

His comments come as the Citizens’ Platform for Constitutional Reform intensifies efforts to mobilise public support and encourage citizen participation in the constitutional reform process.

Dr Asante explained that the platform, which was launched in November 2025, was established to mobilise citizens to support what he described as a credible constitutional reform process and outcome.

He said the platform currently brings together more than 100 civil society organisations, as well as professional groups, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.

The platform also has a 25-member steering committee chaired by Dr Akosua Darkwa of the Network for Women's Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT).

According to Dr Asante, the group has been actively educating citizens about the constitutional reform process to prepare them to play a meaningful role.

He said the platform is also helping citizens understand and assess the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), the government's position paper and the views of citizens on the proposals.

Dr Asante stressed that the opportunity for constitutional reform should not be wasted on superficial changes.

“Citizens of all walks of life want to see change and that's why I really think that if we want to do this, we should do it well and not just paper over the cracks,” he said.