As the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) rolls out its nationwide zonal consultations, the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) is leading efforts to ensure that grassroots voices are not sidelined in this crucial national conversation.

In a recent capacity-building workshop held at IDEG’s office in Greater Accra, representatives from civil society groups, women-led organizations, and community leaders from the southern and middle parts of the country, i.e., Bono, Central, Eastern, Oti, Greater Accra, Western, Western North, and Volta, gathered to strengthen their understanding of the constitutional review process and explore ways to actively engage in the upcoming CRC zonal consultations.

The session provided participants with a deep understanding of the CRC’s mandate, the structure of the review process, and practical advocacy techniques to ensure that community-driven proposals are well-articulated and impactful.

“We believe that true constitutional reform must be driven by the people, not just those in power. Therefore, our engagement with community representatives is to ensure that civil society and community leaders go into these zonal consultations fully equipped to represent the concerns of ordinary people who would not get the opportunity to participate in the meeting,” stated Kwesi Jonah, IDEG’s Head of Advocacy and Institutional Relations.

Accordingly, IDEG is enabling more inclusive and representative participation in Ghana’s constitutional reform through capacity-building workshops.

Participants praised the initiative for demystifying the constitutional review process and helping them translate everyday struggles into clear policy proposals. This clarity sparked a widespread desire among participants to contribute meaningfully to the review process when the committee visits their region.

According to Nana Benin, a representative from the Western North Region, “Many of us know what’s not working in our communities; we live it every day. Therefore, if we are given the opportunity, we will speak to make things better.”

Youth voices also rang loud and clear. “When the Constitution was made, some of us weren’t even born, and so this is our chance to shape the future by addressing our concerns,” said a young participant.

IDEG’s intervention, which was funded by Oxfam under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Citizen Engagement in Ghana’s Constitutional Review Process”, sought to close this gap by empowering communities to engage with the CRC.

As the CRC’s regional engagements are ongoing, grassroots input will be vital in shaping a constitution that reflects the nation’s diverse realities. With civil society actively ensuring grassroots involvement, Ghana’s democratic future could be increasingly shaped by the communities it seeks to serve.

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