ADAM-Gh criticizes parts of CRC report, calls for ‘rethink’

The Anchoring Democracy Advocacy Movement Ghana (ADAM-Gh) has raised concerns over certain recommendations in the recently released Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) report, describing some proposals as illogical and in need of urgent review.

In a statement, the civil society organisation said it disagrees with recommendations restricting the appointment of Members of Parliament (MPs) as ministers, including instances where a minister resigns.

“I completely disagree with some portions of the constitutional review committee recommendations, especially MPs should not be appointed as ministers even when a minister resigns etc. What kind of recommendation is this?” the statement read.

ADAM-Gh also criticized a clause in the current Constitution that states 70 per cent of ministers must be appointed from Parliament, arguing that the restriction unfairly limits the President’s discretion to select competent individuals for ministerial positions.

“There is a clause in the Constitution that requires 70 per cent of MPs to be appointed as ministers. I believe that if this recommendation is to be followed, they should rather remove that percentage cap and allow the President the opportunity to appoint competent Ghanaians across the board, including MPs. This part of the recommendation seems as if someone harbors resentment against MPs. It is not fair to them,” ADAM-Gh said.

The group further expressed disappointment over the Committee’s failure to amend Article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution to adopt a system similar to the American model, where a presidential candidate wins based on the number of states—or in Ghana’s case, regions—secured. ADAM-Gh warned that maintaining the current requirement, where a candidate must obtain “more than fifty per cent of the total number of valid votes cast,” could allow a party to dominate national power by winning only a few regions.

“Failure to amend Article 63(3) to adopt the American style of winning Presidential elections based on the number of states a candidate wins, in our case, the number of regions a candidate wins, means that one political party will continue to win two regions and rule the wholeof  Ghana. So disappointed,” the organisation stated.

Under Article 63(3) of the 1992 Constitution and the Presidential Elections Act, 1992 (PNDCL 285), a presidential candidate must secure more than 50 per cent of valid votes to be declared the winner. If no candidate achieves this majority, a run-off election is conducted between the top two candidates.

ADAM-Gh, which focuses on democratic governance, constitutional reforms, and citizen engagement, said its position reflects a concern for fairness, transparency, and the strengthening of democratic principles in Ghana.

The Constitutional Review Committee presented its final report to President John Dramani Mahama on 22 December 2025. Chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the eight-member committee was tasked with reviewing the 1992 Constitution and proposing reforms to enhance Ghana’s democratic governance framework.

The report concludes several months of nationwide consultations and technical analysis, with other committee members including Justice Sophia Adinyira, retired Supreme Court Justice; Professor Kwame Karikari; former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei; Dr Godwin Djokoto; Ibrahim Tanko Amadu; Dr Esi Ansah; and Dr Rainer Akumperigeya.

Among its recommendations, the committee proposed that the executive and legislature be more clearly separated, affirmed that there is no constitutional provision for a third presidential term, and suggested extending the presidential term from four to five years.