GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Constitutional Rights and Policy Strategy Advisor at Democracy Hub, has criticised the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) for categorising the proposal to extend Ghana’s presidential term to five years as a semi-entrenched provision.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Wednesday, January 7, Barker-Vormawor argued that the issue is too fundamental to be decided solely by Parliament and should instead be subjected to a national referendum to allow Ghanaians to determine the matter directly.
He explained that the CRC’s proposals divide constitutional provisions into entrenched clauses, which require approval through a referendum, and semi-entrenched clauses, which can be amended by Parliament with a supermajority vote.
While acknowledging that the framework is designed to streamline the constitutional amendment process, Barker-Vormawor maintained that the length of a presidential term lies at the heart of Ghana’s democratic system and should not be treated as a routine parliamentary matter.
“I disagree with the committee. I think it is one of the questions that should go to a referendum. It is one of the questions that they put into the semi-entrenched category that goes to Parliament. I think this is a question that people should speak on,” he said.
He further noted that the two-term limit for the presidency has been classified as an entrenched provision requiring a referendum, arguing that any proposal affecting the duration of a presidential term should be handled with the same level of public participation.
Barker-Vormawor warned that excluding citizens from such a critical constitutional decision risks weakening public confidence in the review process and undermining trust in reforms intended to strengthen democratic governance in Ghana.
