Mahama has announced plans to hold a national referendum on proposed constitutional amendments alongside the 2027 District Assembly elections.
He disclosed this during a Citizens’ Engagement in Bolgatanga as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region.
President Mahama said voters would, in addition to electing Assembly Members next year, be asked to decide on proposed changes to the entrenched provisions of the 1992 Constitution.
“We therefore want to add the referendum to the District Assembly elections next year. Next year, apart from voting for your Assembly Members, you will also be required to vote on the constitutional amendments,” he said.
He explained that if the referendum secured the required approval, the government would proceed with implementing the proposed amendments to the entrenched clauses.
“If the referendum is successful, we will implement the amendments to the entrenched clauses. That is what we are doing with regard to governance,” he added.
According to the President, he would soon inaugurate a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to consider the government’s position paper alongside the reports of the Constitutional Review Commission and harmonise the recommendations.
The committee, he said, would categorise the proposals into entrenched and non-entrenched constitutional provisions.
“For non-entrenched clauses, we only need Parliamentary approval. We will put them before Parliament, and Members will vote and pass them,” President Mahama explained.
He noted that constitutional amendments involving entrenched clauses would require a referendum, with at least 40 per cent of registered voters required to participate and 75 per cent of those who vote required to approve the proposals.
“Entrenched clauses require that we conduct a referendum. At least 40 percent of registered voters must vote, and 75 per cent of those who vote must say yes,” he said.
President Mahama also responded to requests from the Paramount Chief of the Kologo Traditional Area, Naba Clifford Abagna Tandegrewongrekugre Asobayire V, for the construction of a road in the area and the establishment of a Senior High School.
He directed the Minister of Roads and Highways to take steps to ensure that the road project was undertaken.
He also tasked the Minister of Education with facilitating the establishment of a Senior High School in the Kologo Traditional Area.
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