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Barker-Vormawor suggests constitutional review could be Mahama’s biggest legacy
via GhanaWeb4 min read
Private legal practitioner and activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has stated that a constitutional review could be the most defining legacy of President John Dramani Mahama. In a post on his X page on Friday, June 12, 2026, Barker-Vormawor argued that the 1992 Constitution has clear limitations, noting that while it established the Fourth Republic, it has "entrenched elitism at every level and made illusory the promise of probity, accountability and transparency." He suggested that the ideals of the June 4th era and revolutionary governance have not been fully realized under the current constitutional framework. Barker-Vormawor believes Ghana still has an opportunity to build a more inclusive “social democracy” through constitutional reforms. An eight-member Constitutional Review Committee has already submitted its report, proposing an extension of the presidential term from four to five years, election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and the inclusion of traditional chiefs in local government structures. The committee also calls for an end to the hybrid relationship between the executive and the legislature and reforms to reduce partisan influence in the public sector.
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Akorfa Dagadu, a 2019 National Science and Maths Quiz NSMQ semifinalist from Keta Senior High Technical School, has graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT with a degree in Chemical-Biological Engineering. She was recognized as the Most Outstanding Chemical Engineering Student in Boston by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE. Dagadu has also been named a Schwarzman Scholar, joining the Class of 2026–27. The Schwarzman Scholarship is a fully funded one-year master’s degree program in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, focusing on leadership, global affairs, and China. At MIT, Dagadu researched enzyme-polymer systems for plastic degradation, earning the CellPress Rising Scientist Award. She is also the founder of Ishara, a venture aimed at improving recycling systems in Ghana by connecting informal waste pickers to more efficient structures, with potential for expansion into other developing markets. Dagadu has expressed interest in establishing a materials innovation hub in Africa to tackle waste-related challenges, including plastics and electronic waste.
Must ReadA new study by the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, titled “Undertones and Public Perception of Military Rule and Democracy in Ghana,” surveyed 6,719 people across all 16 regions. The findings indicate that while a majority of Ghanaians still value democratic governance, frustrations over economic hardship and corruption are leading some to consider military rule as an alternative. Professor Isaac Owusu Mensah, Head of the Department of Political Science, presented the findings, noting that 52.3% of respondents were satisfied with Ghana’s democracy, with 43.5% rating it as good and 10.3% as very good. A significant 92.3% correctly identified democracy as being grounded in the rule of law, human rights protection, and regular elections. However, 85.2% of respondents cited democracy’s inability to deliver economic development, particularly concerning unemployment and the rising cost of living, as Ghana’s biggest democratic challenge. Additionally, 75.5% felt democracy had failed to effectively tackle corruption. The study revealed that 34.5% of respondents would consider supporting military rule if democracy failed to improve economic conditions, and 28.1% due to unchecked corruption. Furthermore, 54.7% believed the military would be more effective in combating corruption, and 49.5% felt military leaders in the Sahel region were performing well. Despite this, focus group discussions showed many participants remained wary of military rule due to concer
Must ReadThe Government of Ghana is repatriating 327 Ghanaian nationals from Côte d'Ivoire following a mass demolition exercise in the Port Bouët Municipality in Abidjan. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed this on Friday, June 12, 2026. The demolition left the affected Ghanaians without homes or livelihoods. As of Thursday, June 11, 2026, 228 individuals had already been repatriated, with the remaining expected to return on Friday, June 12, 2026. The Ghanaian government provided free transport for the returnees and their belongings. Discussions are ongoing with Ivorian authorities regarding compensation for those affected by the demolition. Ghana's diplomatic mission in Abidjan is coordinating efforts to support the affected individuals, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation to Côte d'Ivoire for its cooperation.