Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for constitutional reforms to place stronger limits on presidential power and improve the system of checks and balances in Ghana’s democracy.
She argues that while the President needs enough authority to effectively govern the country, that authority must operate within clear constitutional boundaries.
“Presidents should have powers, but they cannot have unfettered powers,” she said.
Her comments have renewed attention on the structure of Ghana’s governance system and the need to ensure that political power is not concentrated excessively in the hands of one arm of government.
Sophia Akuffo wants stronger checks and balances
Speaking on Channel One TV on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the former Chief Justice said Ghana needs a more effective enforcement of the principle of separation of powers.
The principle is intended to ensure that the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary perform their respective roles while providing oversight over one another.
According to Sophia Akuffo, stronger safeguards would help prevent any of the three arms of government from operating without adequate checks.
Her position is that constitutional reform should therefore go beyond changing individual provisions and look at how power is exercised across the country’s governance institutions.
1992 Constitution has exposed some weaknesses
The former Chief Justice also believes Ghana’s experience with the 1992 Constitution has revealed areas that need to be addressed.
The Constitution has provided the framework for the country’s Fourth Republic for decades, but Sophia Akuffo says its practical application has also produced anomalies that should not be ignored.
“In many ways, our Constitution has worked out for us over the years of its existence; it has created a lot of anomalies which we must correct to move our democracy on to the next level for sustainability because people are getting fed up,” she said.
She believes dealing with these weaknesses is important not only for the sustainability of Ghana’s democratic system but also for rebuilding public confidence.
What stronger presidential safeguards could mean
Presidential authority affects several areas of national life, including appointments, public administration and the implementation of government policies.
For ordinary Ghanaians, the debate over constitutional checks may appear distant, but decisions made within the country’s governance structure can have direct consequences on public institutions and how they operate.
Sophia Akuffo’s argument is that stronger constitutional guardrails could help ensure that political authority is exercised with greater accountability.
The proposal also comes amid broader discussions about whether Ghana’s constitutional arrangements are sufficiently equipped to meet the country’s changing democratic needs.
Call for constitutional reform
Sophia Akuffo, who is also a Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), said constitutional reform should focus on creating clearer limits around presidential authority while strengthening oversight between the three arms of government.
Her comments add to the wider national conversation about reviewing aspects of Ghana’s constitutional framework.
The central issue is not whether the President should have powers, but how those powers can be exercised while maintaining institutional independence and accountability.
For Ghana’s democracy to remain sustainable, Sophia Akuffo believes the country must identify the weaknesses that have emerged from years of operating the 1992 Constitution and make the necessary corrections.
The debate over constitutional reform is therefore likely to remain an important national issue as stakeholders consider how Ghana can strengthen its democratic institutions and restore public confidence in governance.
