Barker-Vormawor: Ghana CRIC Role Clarification, Not Policy-Making

• Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Secretary to the Ghana Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC), clarified that the committee holds a technical, facilitative mandate, not a policy-making one.
• The 11-member CRIC will not "rubber-stamp" government proposals or determine which reforms become law, but rather translate decisions reached through political consensus.
• The ultimate authority for constitutional amendment decisions rests with Parliament and political parties, which provide the necessary political direction.
• Chaired by Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, the CRIC was inaugurated on August 28 by Attorney-General Dominic Ayine to examine government positions and the Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh report to develop an implementation framework.
• The committee's role is likened to a midwife, delivering the reform process without dictating its final outcome, emphasizing the need for broad stakeholder agreement.

The ultimate authority for key decisions regarding constitutional amendment bills resides elsewhere, as determining which proposals advance to become part of legislative drafts is "beyond our pay grade."

Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who serves as Secretary to the Ghana Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC), recently provided a definitive clarification regarding the committee's operational scope and authority. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on a Tuesday, Barker-Vormawor asserted that the 11-member CRIC is not designed to merely endorse or "rubber-stamp" proposals put forth by the government concerning constitutional amendments. He underscored that the committee operates with a strictly technical mandate, distinctly separate from any policy-making functions.

This technical role means the CRIC does not possess the power to unilaterally decide which proposed reforms will ultimately be enacted into law. Instead, its primary function is to facilitate the broader political process of constitutional reform and to accurately translate decisions that emerge from a consensus-driven approach. Barker-Vormawor explicitly stated that the CRIC is not a successor to the "post-Prempeh committee" in terms of policy formulation, emphasizing its nature as a technical body tasked with advancing the outcomes determined by the political sphere.

The committee's responsibilities include meticulously reviewing various position papers and stakeholder perspectives. These insights are then to be communicated back to the government, allowing for an assessment of whether initial instructions remain firm or if adjustments are necessary based on evolving viewpoints. Furthermore, the CRIC is empowered to organize discussions among different stakeholders, aiming to foster broad agreement around the proposed reform agenda. This approach highlights the committee's role as a crucial intermediary in the Ghana constitutional reform process, ensuring diverse voices are heard and considered.

The Secretary to the CRIC emphasized that the journey of constitutional review cannot be forced through without widespread acceptance. He stressed the imperative for continuous dialogue, ongoing agreement, and a willingness to compromise at various stages of the process. This collaborative spirit is essential because constitutional reform is not intended to be the exclusive domain of any single political party or entity. Instead, it necessitates the active involvement and collective endorsement of all relevant stakeholders to establish a shared blueprint for reform.

Barker-Vormawor made it clear that while the CRIC plays a vital role in this intricate process, the ultimate authority for key decisions regarding constitutional amendment bills resides elsewhere. He stated unequivocally that determining which proposals advance to become part of legislative drafts is "beyond our pay grade." The ultimate political direction for the CRIC's work, he explained, comes from Ghana's elected members of Parliament and its political parties. These bodies, having sought and received mandates from the electorate, are the voices that will guide the trajectory of the reform efforts. He metaphorically described the committee as "clay in their hands," illustrating its subservient role to the political will.

The Constitution Review Implementation Committee itself was formally inaugurated on August 28 by Dominic Ayine, who holds the positions of Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. This 11-member body is led by Presidential Legal Counsel and former Attorney-General Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, serving as its chairperson. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, whose statements have clarified the committee's operational parameters, functions as its Secretary.

The CRIC's specific mandate involves a comprehensive examination of the government's official position paper on constitutional reform. This review is conducted in conjunction with the findings and recommendations contained within the report prepared by the Constitution Review Committee, which was previously chaired by Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh. Following this thorough assessment, the CRIC is tasked with developing a practical framework for the implementation of the proposed reforms. Its membership is diverse, incorporating representatives from Parliament, local government bodies, and other pertinent sectors, ensuring a broad base of expertise and perspectives.

The explicit clarification of the Ghana CRIC role by Oliver Barker-Vormawor holds significant implications for the ongoing Ghana constitutional reform process. By delineating the committee's function as purely technical and facilitative, rather than policy-setting, it establishes clear boundaries for engagement. This distinction is crucial for understanding where ultimate decision-making power lies within the constitutional amendment framework. The CRIC's role, likened by Barker-Vormawor to that of a midwife, is to deliver the process effectively without dictating its final outcome, much like a midwife assists in birth without determining the characteristics of the child.

This means that while the CRIC is instrumental in gathering views, fostering consensus, and drafting based on agreed-upon directives, the substantive choices about what reforms are adopted rest firmly with political institutions. Legal professionals and advocacy groups seeking to influence constitutional changes should therefore direct their primary engagement towards Parliament and the various political parties. Understanding the CRIC technical mandate Ghana is key to effective advocacy, ensuring efforts are channeled to the bodies that possess the authority to shape and approve constitutional amendments. This framework underscores that the success of the reform hinges on political consensus and parliamentary action, with the CRIC serving as an essential, but not decisive, technical support mechanism.

This clarifies that the ultimate decision-making power for constitutional amendments in Ghana rests with Parliament and political parties, not the CRIC. Legal professionals advising on constitutional reform should therefore direct their advocacy and engagement efforts towards these political bodies, understanding the CRIC's role as a technical facilitator.

Source: Original reporting via Abubakar Ibrahim on September 2, 2026.