Ghana to hold referendum on proposed constitutional amendments in 2027 – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans for Ghana to hold a national referendum on proposed constitutional amendments alongside the 2027 District Assembly Elections.

The President made the announcement during a Citizens’ Engagement in Bolgatanga as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region.

According to President Mahama, voters who participate in next year’s District Assembly Elections will also be required to vote on proposed amendments to Ghana’s 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 the referendum would be necessary for proposed amendments affecting the Constitution’s entrenched provisions, which require approval through a national vote.

President Mahama said government would soon inaugurate a Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to begin the process of translating recommendations from the Constitutional Review Commission into specific constitutional amendments.

The committee, he said, would consider the government's position paper alongside the reports of the Constitutional Review Commission and synthesise the proposals.

The proposals would subsequently be divided into entrenched and non-entrenched clauses, depending on the constitutional procedure required for their amendment.

“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.

For entrenched provisions, however, he said a referendum would be required.

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.”

The President said the decision to hold the referendum alongside the District Assembly Elections would help facilitate participation and streamline the electoral process.

During the engagement, President Mahama also responded to development requests from the Paramount Chief of the Kologo Traditional Area, Naba Clifford Abagna Tandegrewongrekugre Asobayire V.

The Paramount Chief had appealed for the construction of a road serving the traditional area and the establishment of a Senior High School.

In response, President Mahama directed the Minister of Roads and Highways to ensure that the road project was undertaken.

He also tasked the Minister of Education with taking steps to facilitate the establishment of a Senior High School in the Kologo Traditional Area.

The directives form part of the government's broader efforts to respond to development concerns raised by communities during the President's nationwide Resetting Ghana Tour.

The proposed 2027 referendum, meanwhile, could mark a significant stage in Ghana's ongoing constitutional reform process, particularly if the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee identifies substantial changes requiring approval through a popular vote.