The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) is leading a coalition of civil society groups to demand immediate multi-party governance reforms ahead of 2016 general elections.

The civil society groups will advance their cause at a forum on Monday, April 28, 2014 at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.

The forum, the Civic Forum Initiative, will hold discussions on how to effectively push for governance reform agenda.

The aftermath of the 2012 general elections prompted numerous calls by governance experts and politicians for the need to restructure the county’s electoral processes.

The forum, dubbed 'The National Interest Dialogue', will be the first of its kind in the country.

According to organizers of the forum, it will provide a platform for promoting diverse and inclusive participation in the constitutional amendment process and multi-party governance reforms in the country.

The civil society groups cite recurring threat of political violence in general elections, politicization, corruption and a paralysis of public service bureaucracies as justification for forum..

They further mentioned the lack of sustained political dialogue and national consensus on measures for resolving the challenges peacefully as other crucial reasons to hold the consultations on Monday.

The press statement, signed by executive directive of IDEG, Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, further called for complimentary reforms aimed at filling gaps in the constitution review and amendment process.

IDEG says a successful dialogue on Monday will among other things, promote more inclusive governance and remove the threat of political violence in the country’s electoral democracy.