Irbad Ibrahim, an expert in International Relations, has expressed deep disappointment over the exclusion of traditional rulers from Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process.
He raised the concern at the grand launch of TMG Heritage Connect, questioning the composition of the constitutional review committee nearly seven decades after independence.
“Take a minute and look at the composition of the constitutional review. After 69 years of independence, look at all the people we have chosen — there isn’t a single Chief in the constitutional review committee,” he said.
According to Mr. Ibrahim, the absence of traditional authorities signals a deeper structural problem that could affect national cohesion and long-term stability.
“So there is a little problem somewhere, and I believe that Heritage Connect and other platforms like this are important for the long-term security and stability of the Republic of Ghana,” he added.
He stressed that excluding traditional rulers undermines the country’s historical foundations, noting that chiefs remain the legitimate custodians of the land and culture.
“We can’t leave out the custodians of this land — the Nii Mei, Naa Mei and Nananom,” he emphasized.
His remarks have reignited discussions on the role of traditional authority in governance and constitutional reforms, with calls for a more inclusive approach that reflects Ghana’s cultural and historical realities.