Why Ghana’s media should lead constitutional reform conversations

By Rebecca Ekpe, a journalist.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan once said, “Democracy is not just about elections. It is about participation, accountability, and the continuous engagement of citizens in the life of their nation.”

If so, then evidently, citizen participation can be explained as an action that transforms governance from a top-down system into a shared responsibility. It can lead to better policies, stronger institutions, and a more stable democracy.

Then it points to the reason why Journalists in Ghana are uniquely positioned to lead national conversations on the Constitutional Review Committee’s proposed reforms because they sit at the intersection of information, accountability, and citizen engagement, and this makes the role of the media in disseminating information on the proposed reforms even more critical.

Why Constitutional Reform in Ghana

In the last 30 years and counting, Ghana’s Constitution has represented the framework for democratic governance and the Fourth Republic. However, research has pointed to evolving governance challenges and concerns over executive dominance, weak separation of powers, weak decentralisation, and gaps in accountability mechanisms, which have raised the need for an extensive constitutional reform.

In response, President John Mahama set up the Constitutional Review Committee, in 2025, chaired by the Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, Professor H Kwesi Prempeh, with the primary mandate to make recommendations to the Government for a review of the country’s 1992 Constitution. Consequently, Professor H. The Prempeh Committee submitted the summary report in December 2025 and has also submitted the full report in January 2026 to the Office of the President, awaiting the next line of action.

Civil Society Activism: Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform

In the meantime, Civil Society Organizations, STAR Ghana Foundation and CDD-Ghana have made inroads in the conversations to ignite civic participation in matters arising from the proposed reforms, with the launch of the Citizens Platform on Constitutional Reform (CSO-CRC Platform).

The goal here is to amplify citizen perspectives and engage constructively with policymakers, with the view that reform processes are transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based.

The Platform has also constituted a Steering Committee, a coalition of 20 civil society organisations, professional bodies, trade unions, social movements, and citizens, chaired by Professor Akosua K. Darkwah from the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) and Professor of Sociology at the University of Ghana.

Agenda Setting Role of The Media

Fundamentally, the Media have a fundamental role of setting a national agenda. In fact, what the media highlights often becomes what the nation discusses. By prioritizing constitutional reforms in news coverage, editorials, and talk shows, it is envisaged that journalists can drive sustained public attention and informed debate on governance issues.

Safeguarding democracy and press freedom

Constitutional reforms often touch on civil liberties, including freedom of expression. Journalists, as direct stakeholders, have the innate responsibility and the expected credibility to advocate for reforms that strengthen democratic institutions and protect media independence.

In reality, Journalists are required to translate complex constitutional proposals into clear, accessible language for ordinary citizens. The recommendations of bodies like the Constitutional Review Commission of Ghana can be technical and legalistic, therefore, without the media, many Ghanaians would be excluded from understanding how reforms affect their rights and governance, placing Journalists in a high position as custodians of public information.

Promoting Accountability and Transparency

Speaking truth to power and holding duty bearers accountable is fundamental to journalism. By all standards, media scrutiny helps to ensure that reform processes are not manipulated by political or elite interests. Clearly posited by the Citizens Platform for Constitution Reforms, “Citizen involvement is important because citizens’ voices can shape what recommendations are prioritized, reducing the likelihood of reforms being undermined by partisan interests and ultimately securing the majority’s interests’’.

The Media go far to amplify diverse voices, as a constitutional review must reflect the will of the people. Journalists therefore provide platforms for citizens across regions, classes, and political affiliations to express their views. Through radio, TV, digital media, and community reporting, the media promotes and ensures inclusivity in shaping reforms.

Countering misinformation and political manipulation

Given that misinformation and disinformation are rife, reform processes can be vulnerable to propaganda or misrepresentation. By their training, Journalists help fact-check claims, provide context, and ensure that public discourse is guided by truth rather than speculation or partisan narratives.

More importantly, Journalists can disseminate the expected information by acting as intermediaries between policymakers and the public, thereby explaining government positions while also conveying citizens’ concerns back to decision-makers. This two-way communication is essential for democratic legitimacy, and this bridging of the gap mechanism by Journalists between the government and citizens cannot be taken for granted if this democracy must be sustained.

Essentially, if constitutional reform is about shaping the future of governance, then journalists are the facilitators of that national conversation. Their credibility, reach, and watchdog role make them indispensable in ensuring that reforms are not only understood but also owned by the people.

In conclusion, the important and critical role of the media in driving the conversations, therefore places an even greater responsibility on the State to be interested in investing in a media sector that thrives, and a media that can contribute positively to building a democratic society and more importantly help shape the conversations even more positively on Ghana’s constitutional reforms, as it is not a partisan initiative, but a democratic initiative, as the President, John Dramani Mahama once said, “The strength of our democracy lies in the active involvement of our citizens in governance and decision-making.”

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