Ghana’s former Attorney General and Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, is back in the spotlight—this time calling out Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Chair of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), for what he calls selective activism and political bias.
In an opinion piece dated May 5, 2025, Amidu laid out several strong accusations.
Here’s a breakdown of his key points:
1. Prof. Prempeh was silent during Akufo-Addo’s constitutional breaches
Amidu accused Prempeh of being quiet while the previous NPP administration allegedly violated the 1992 Constitution. Now that the NDC is in power, he says, Prempeh has suddenly found his voice to critique the Council of State’s structure and powers.
“Kwasi Prempeh now sees his suggestions as endemic sins of the Council of State. This is what is called double speak!”
2. He’s pushing covert constitutional changes
Amidu claimed that Prempeh’s public commentary about the Council of State’s flaws is a veiled attempt to lay the groundwork for altering both unentrenched and entrenched parts of the Constitution, particularly Chapters 8 and 9.
3. He accepted a ‘handpicked’ role under Akufo-Addo
Amidu recalled that Prempeh accepted a non-competitive appointment to the Law Reform Commission during the NPP government, yet he now criticizes the same political structure that enabled his past appointment.
4. His advocacy is politically timed
Amidu believes Prempeh’s current reform push is conveniently aligned with ongoing criticism of how the Council of State handled the removal of the Chief Justice under Article 146(6), suggesting it’s all part of a broader partisan strategy.
5. He warned the NDC about Prempeh’s intentions
Martin Amidu didn’t hold back, cautioning the ruling NDC against placing too much trust in Prempeh. He metaphorically suggested they may be “supping with the devil” by giving Prempeh such a powerful role in constitutional reform.
“I only pray that the NDC has a long spoon.”
Background on Prof. Prempeh’s appointment
Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, a prominent legal scholar and Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, was appointed on January 19, 2025, to chair an eight-member Constitutional Review Committee.
The committee’s task is to review past recommendations, identify current gaps in governance, and submit proposed reforms within five months. His appointment was initially praised as a non-partisan move by President Mahama.
