According to a statement from the Committee, the engagements will include targeted consultations with specific stakeholders on key constitutional matters and open-ended zonal engagements for broader public participation.

As part of the targeted stakeholder engagement, the CRC is inviting written contributions from experts, public institutions, professional bodies, trade unions, civil society organisations, political parties, and the general public.

The consultations will focus on various themes, with stakeholders encouraged to submit their views by the following deadlines:

• Lands and Natural Resources – Submission by December 2
• Decentralisation, Local Government & Chieftaincy – Submission by March 12
• Public Services and Enterprises – Submission by March 15
• Executive Advisory Councils (Council of State, IGP, Police Service Council, Armed Forces Council, National Security Council) – Submission by March 20
• Independent Constitutional Bodies/Offices – Submission by March 20
• Directive Principles of State Policy, Social and Economic Rights, and NDPC – Submission by March 20
• Political Parties – Submission by March 20
• Political Branches (Executive & Legislature) – Submission by March 20
• The Judiciary – Submission by March 20
• Other Areas (Finance, Central Bank, Public Debt Management, Discretionary Power, Dual Citizenship, Amendment Procedure) – Submission by March 20

For the broader zonal engagements, the Committee has scheduled validation meetings across the country on the following dates and locations:

• Zone 1 – Accra: April 7-8
• Zone 2 – Tamale/Bolgatanga: April 10-11
• Zone 3 – Wa: April 14-15
• Zone 4 – Kumasi: April 22-23
• Zone 5 – Takoradi/Cape Coast: April 25-26
• Zone 6 – Koforidua: April 29-30
• Zone 7 – Ho: May 5-6

Additionally, the CRC has provided multiple submission channels to encourage participation:

• Electronic Submissions: Memoranda can be sent to submissions@constitutionreviewgh.org
• Online Submissions & Public Engagement: Through www.constitutionreviewgh.org
• In-Person Submissions: Written contributions may be delivered to the CRC Secretariat.

The Committee has urged all relevant parties, organisations, and individuals to actively participate in the engagements and submit their opinions to ensure an inclusive and representative review process.

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Read the full statement below:

Members of the Wa Municipal Assembly, representatives of Bahas Foundation, Hope Foundation, Department of Social Welfare and Narcotics Control Commission, among others, attended the meeting over the weekend to contribute towards fighting the canker.

Mr Kelvin Sunkpal Dafaari, the Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, noted that the failure of people to report drug peddlers in their communities impeded the fight against the menace.

“We are looking at collaborating with local authorities and traditional leaders to intensify public education and sensitisation at the community level. We also want to strengthen our collaboration with the relevant state agencies and institutions to fight the canker” he said.

Mr Dafaari observed with worry that tramadol was now sold in the communities by unauthorised vendors including mobile money vendors and provision shops.

Mr Yahaya Mohammed Hafiz, the Upper West Regional Manager of the Pharmacy Council, said the Council deemed it necessary to collaborate with the FDA to check the alarming rate at which the youth were abusing tramadol in the Wa Municipality.

He stressed the need to ensure that every player in the drug value chain worked according to the dictates of the law to help reduce the canker.

He explained that most of the drugs people abused in the Municipality were not registered in Ghana but came into the country through unapproved routes.

Mr Issahaku Tahiru Moomin, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), observed that drug abuse was a national security concern attributing the high crime rate in the municipality to drug abuse and needed concerted efforts to tackle.

He emphasised the need for the Assembly members to support the FDA and serve as its ambassadors against drug peddling and abuse.

Mr Yahaya Jiga, the Assembly Member for the Bamahu Electoral Area, recommended the production of injectable tramadol, which would be difficult to use by any person than a health personnel.

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