By Alex Ababio
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for a thorough review of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. While emphasizing that the document is not fundamentally flawed, she stated it requires periodic updates to stay relevant to modern-day challenges.
In an interview on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, January 7, Justice Akuffo compared the Constitution to a car that needs regular maintenance to perform at its best.
“I’ve never agreed with the former president that the Constitution is so perfect that it doesn’t need to be reviewed,” she said, responding to earlier assertions that the document required no changes.
“The Constitution, being a living document, has to be nursed, nurtured, tweaked, and massaged,” she added.
Reflecting on its 33 years of guiding Ghana’s democracy, Justice Akuffo pointed out the need to reevaluate certain provisions that may have become outdated.
“From time to time, we need to take a look to see whether it continues in every respect to suit current-day purposes,” she remarked.
She also backed the resumption of the constitutional review process, which began over a decade ago but was left incomplete.
“It’s just unfortunate that it came to an unceremonious pause,” she lamented, adding, “We need to take a second look at it. There are certain parts that are not working the way we had anticipated, and there are ways it can be better.”
To illustrate her point, Justice Akuffo offered a relatable analogy.
“The reason you take your car frequently and regularly to the workshop to service it is to make sure that, at all times, your car is fixed for your purpose,” she explained.
Applying this metaphor to the Constitution, she argued that ongoing maintenance is essential to ensure its effectiveness in addressing the needs of the people.
However, she clarified that her call for a review did not imply the Constitution is inherently flawed.
“It’s not a broken Constitution. I fully agree with that,” she affirmed, while highlighting the importance of modernising it for continued effectiveness.
Justice Akuffo’s perspective aligns with recent comments by former President John Mahama, who has also advocated for reviving the constitutional review process.
“I am fully in agreement with President Mahama that there should be a review,” she stated. “After all, there is nothing wrong with reviewing or revising a Constitution to ensure every provision serves the purposes of the people.”
Her remarks come at a pivotal moment in Ghana’s democratic evolution, as calls for constitutional reforms continue to grow. Justice Akuffo’s insights underscore the importance of collective efforts to refine the Constitution while preserving its core strengths.