Faith groups advocate key changes on gender, state religion in Constitutional review
By Nii Trebi Hammond
The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) held a crucial stakeholder engagement with representatives from Ghana’s faith community on Tuesday, June 10, where a range of significant proposals were presented concerning amendments to the 1992 Constitution. Chaired by Professor H.K. Prempeh, the meeting covered fundamental issues including gender definition, the secular nature of the state, regulation of religious bodies, and presidential powers.
The engagement is part of the CRC’s mandate to gather diverse perspectives to inform its recommendations for constitutional reforms.
A prominent issue raised by the faith community was the explicit reaffirmation of the Ghanaian family structure, advocating for the Constitution to unequivocally recognize only two sexes/genders: male and female. This proposal also called for a clear prohibition of LGBTQ+ activities within Ghanaian society, a stance expressly supported by the Christian Council of Ghana.
The long-standing debate over Ghana’s status as a secular state was another major topic. While some stakeholders passionately called for Ghana to be declared a religious state, Professor Prempeh, the Committee’s chairman, challenged this view. He sought clarity on whether such a declaration would designate Ghana as specifically Christian or Islamic. Professor Prempeh further argued that the Constitution’s preamble, which begins “In the name of the Almighty God,” already sufficiently reflects its pro-religious inclination. He cautioned that a formal declaration of a religious state could “escalate into something else,” urging for “a little measurement in views” from all participants.
Proposals were also made regarding the regulation of churches and other religious institutions. Participants suggested including major Christian bodies, such as the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), the Ghana Baptist Convention (GCB), and the Christian Council of Ghana, as statutory regulatory entities within the Constitution. This would require all churches to formally register with one of these recognized organizations, granting them statutory authority.
On religious freedom and harmony, stakeholders proposed that uniforms for personnel in public institutions like the police, nursing service, and judicial service should reasonably accommodate various religious dress obligations. The wearing of hijabs by Muslim security officers was cited as an example, believed to enhance interfaith harmony and inclusivity. Concerns were also raised about religious practices in schools, particularly regarding instances where students are allegedly compelled to attend church services.
Beyond matters of faith, the engagement extended to broader governance issues. Submissions highlighted concerns about the perceived excessive power of the president, citing, for instance, the advisory mandate of the Council of State, which remains subject to the president’s approval or disagreement. The principle of separation of powers also came under scrutiny, with arguments that the constitutional requirement for the president to appoint a majority of ministers from Parliament compromises the logic of power separation.
Finally, the faith community advocated for a constitutional provision compelling the president to comply with directives from the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). There was also a call for a mechanism to ensure that successive governments continue projects initiated by previous administrations, thereby strengthening the powers and effectiveness of the NDPC.
The meeting was attended by CRC members, representatives from the Christian Council of Ghana and other Christian bodies, delegates from the Office of the National Chief Imam, representatives of the Ga-Dangbe Council, and other relevant organizations, underscoring the broad representation of the faith community in this critical constitutional review process.
