Constitutional Review Findings Fall Short on Economic Concerns-Dr John E.Baiden
Legal practitioner Dr John E Baiden has expressed his disappointment with some findings made by the 2025 Constitution Review Committee, arguing that the recommendations appear to pay little attention to key economic issues affecting citizens.
Passing on his remarks as the Chairman of the Public Lecture organized by the School of Communication Studies of Wisconsin International University College on the 2025 Review of Ghana’s Constitution: Findings and the Way Forward, Dr Baiden stated that the committee’s findings seemed to focus more on non-economic matters while overlooking the economic challenges that many Ghanaians face.
According to him, the growing disconnect between citizens and the constitution is largely rooted in economic conditions rather than purely legal or political issues.
He emphasized that one of the most pressing economic concerns is the stability of the country’s currency, noting that a stable currency is central to economic growth and public confidence in the system.
“ And my disappointment also is
that the findings appear to be short or rather short on economics.I mean it’s more on non-economic matters. But you see the disconnect between the constitution and the people’s feeling is economic. The economy’s central challenge is the lack of a stable currency, and that really should be our focus,” he said.
He also questioned the extent of public engagement carried out by the committee, stating that he and many others did not feel the committee’s presence in their communities during the consultation process.
“I’m a bit disappointed in the findings. I don’t really know where the committee was meeting. I never felt your presence in my area, and I’m sure many people feel the same way,” he remarked.
The legal practitioner also raised concerns about what he described as excessive taxation in the country, particularly at the ports. He argued that importers are often confronted with numerous taxes and levies that are compounded, making business operations difficult.
“It looks like in this country we are overly taxed. Even at our ports, if you try to bring something in, you go through about 30 tax gates, and all these are compounded. These are issues affecting our survival and our future,” he stated.
He further stressed the importance of supporting small businesses, explaining that economic growth and national prosperity are often driven by small and medium enterprises. He therefore called on government to provide stronger institutional support for entrepreneurs.
The 2025 Constitution Review Committee has been tasked with reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and making recommendations aimed at strengthening the country’s democratic governance and institutional framework.
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