The Constitution Review Commission (CRC) on Tuesday adjudged participation from Greater Accra and Volta regions as the highest in the regional hearings and mini consultations for the review of the 1992 Constitution.
Professor Emeritus Albert K. Fiadjoe, CRC Chairman, said the two regions recorded about 1,200 participants daily for the two-day hearings and mini consultations organised to collate views on the operations of the Constitution and, particularly, its strengths and weaknesses.
He said statistics indicated that the other regions - Upper East; Upper West; Northern; Brong Ahafo; Ashanti; Eastern; Western; and Central recorded an average between 800 and 1,000 persons daily.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day Greater Accra Region Review Consultation and Hearing, which also marked the end of the regional open hearings, Prof. Fiadjoe said the CRC would now engage directly with personalities, who by virtue of their office, had direct dealing with the Constitution.
He said the personalities included President John Evans Atta Mills, two former Presidents - Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor - and current and former Speakers of Parliament.
Prof. Fiadjoe explained that aside the broad-based regional consultations, CRC over the period had also conducted special mini consultations with interest groups, including the National Commission for Civic Education (NNCE) and National House of Chiefs.
Others were the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice; Governance think tanks; decentralization and local government experts, gender and human rights groups, people with disabilities; political parties, the media, Council of State and youth groups.
Prof. Fiadjoe said the CRC's strategies afforded Ghanaians very clear and simple avenues to express their opinions on the operation of the Constitution, and "the response has been very impressive".
The CRC Chairman, flanked by the other eight members of the Commission, explained that the regional consultations had provided clear, adequate and ample opportunity for Ghanaians at the regional level to discuss the strengths and weakness of the 1992 Constitution and make submissions.
He said to ensure broad-based participation, "we held community and district level consultations in all 170 districts between April and June and our officers are also currently in the communities and districts conducting follow-up consultations".
Nene Kabu Abram Akuaku III, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, who chaired the opening ceremony, said after nearly 18 years of operating the 1992 Constitution, "we have a good basis to attempt a major review that would reflect the changing circumstances and aspirations of our people".
He urged the Commission to ensure that views expressed at the regional consultations reflected in its final recommendations to the President.
Nene Akuaku, who is the Paramount Chief of Ada Traditional Area, said traditional rulers had the full confidence in the calibre of persons on the Commission and their ability to deliver to the satisfaction of Ghanaians".
Nii Armah Ashietey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, commended CRC for its efforts in gathering regional inputs for the review but cautioned that the review was not to change of the Constitution.
He called for a non-partisan approach to the process, "as any political colouration would mar the consensus building process".
The Accra Mini Consultation discussed the national development plan; executive powers, including transition of executive authority; and legislative powers, including transition of parliament and legal issues.
Others were decentralization and local governance; independent constitutional bodies; public service; traditional authority; human rights, including gender and access to justice issues; and land and natural resources management.