Ghana Governance: CDD-Ghana Demands Constitutional Reform Timeline Amidst Minority Accusations of Government Favoritism

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has intensified calls for the government to publish a clear timeline for the implementation of constitutional reforms following the submission of a comprehensive review report in December 2025. Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante of CDD-Ghana emphasized that public participation and transparency are essential to prevent the reform process from stalling, as has occurred in previous decades. This push for governance reform comes at a critical juncture, as Ghana’s budget transparency score recently plummeted to 22% in the 2025 Global Survey, falling significantly below the Sub-Saharan African average of 38% and highlighting a growing gap in fiscal accountability. Simultaneously, the Minority in Parliament has launched stinging accusations against the President John Mahama-led administration regarding the lack of transparency in national preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Deputy Majority Chief Whip Habib Iddrisu alleged that the government has unfairly allocated World Cup travel slots preferentially to National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament and party supporters. The Minority has demanded the urgent appearance of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Sports, and Works to address these concerns, alongside pressing issues regarding perennial flooding in Accra and the repatriation of Ghanaian citizens from South Africa. The administrative scale of the Executive has also come under parliamentary scrutiny following the submission of a mandatory staffing report. As of late 2025, the Office of the President reported a total of 808 personnel, consisting of 233 political appointees and 585 civil servants. While the opposition remains critical of government spending, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has defended the administration’s economic management. Ampem asserted that the government is guarding economic gains through stricter expenditure controls and new tax incentives designed to decentralize industrial development outside of Accra. These political tensions are unfolding alongside major infrastructure and energy initiatives. The Board of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) recently engaged with Speaker Alban Bagbin to discuss energy security and the restoration of facilities following recent operational challenges. Speaker Bagbin underscored that energy security is fundamental to Ghana’s industrial ambitions, a sentiment echoed by Energy Minister Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, who is advocating for a rapid transition to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to achieve a 50% adoption rate by 2030. Together, these developments reflect a complex political landscape where the government’s developmental agenda is being met with robust demands for constitutional, fiscal, and administrative accountability.