Northern journalists schooled on Constitution Review Commission’s report

To that effect, a two-day media workshop has been organised in Tamale for media practitioners in the three northern regions. The workshop seeks to equip the media practitioners to educate the public on the report and the government white paper on the report. This will enable the citizenry to understand the recommendations and make the needed suggestions for improvement in the constitutional reform.

Speaking at the opening session, the Former Chair of the Commission, Prof. Albert Kodzo Fiadjoe noted there will be divergent views on the Commission’s recommendations though, there is the need to discuss them with honesty.

He indicated open, public and respectful discussions will enrich the Commission’s recommendations and take the nation further on the road to building national consensus across several portfolios.

“Ghana’s Constitution review exercise has not been prompted by a cataclysmic national breakdown, as is the norm with several countries and this should be a source of pride to us all”, he reiterated.

He noted “when constitutions fail, nations disintegrate”, hence the need to approach the constitutional reform exercise with the decorum and circumspection. He therefore urged the media to be at the forefront to educate the citizenry to encourage healthy debate in the effort to reach a consensus on the proposed constitutional reforms.

Prof. Fiadjoe says the Commission considers its report and recommendations as the beginning of another round of healthy, decent and respectful national conversation with a view to narrowing further gaps and differences that surface in the discussions.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Information Minister, Mr James Agyenim Boateng disclosed government is still in the process of constituting a five-member implementation committee to ensure the recommendations of the commission are carried out in consonance with the government white paper on the report.

He indicated the media has a critical role to play in the maintenance of peace and security. “Let the voices of condemnation reverberate across our entire country from religious, civil society groups and the good people of Ghana against those politicians who deliberately incite their followers or make statements to threaten peace and stability of our dear country,” he added.

On his part, the Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney-General, Ebo Barton-Oduro indicated though government has issued a white paper on the report, there are some avenues to effect changes and make recommendations.

He explained that recommendations bothering on entrenched provisions would have to pass through the Attorney General’s office, cabinet, council of state, parliament and subsequently decided on through a referendum while non-entrenched provisions can be amended by the Parliament alone.

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