The Constitutional Review Committee has proposed an extension of Ghana’s presidential term from the current four years to five years, arguing that the change would give governments sufficient time to plan, implement and consolidate development policies.
The proposal was contained in the Committee’s report presented to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22.
Speaking at the presentation, Chairman of the Committee, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, stressed that the recommendation does not open the door for a third presidential term.
According to Prof. Prempeh, the Committee found no strong public support or political consensus in favour of altering the two-term limit enshrined in the Constitution. He noted that discussions on a third term were deliberately avoided to prevent unnecessary controversy and to preserve the spirit of constitutional term limits.
“We could not find any justification or demand for a third term for a President,” he said, adding that President Mahama himself did not support such an idea. “Our focus was not on extending personal political stay in office, but on strengthening governance efficiency.”
Prof. Prempeh explained that the Committee was influenced by submissions from a cross-section of stakeholders, including former presidents and other distinguished public figures, who argued that the four-year term is too short for meaningful governance. He noted that the first part of a presidential term is often spent on administrative transition, policy reviews and institutional reorganisation.
In addition, the Committee observed that electioneering significantly eats into the effective governing period. “The argument we heard repeatedly was that a President spends roughly six months settling into office and close to a year preparing for the next election,” Prof. Prempeh stated.
The Committee also pointed to international trends, noting that a five-year presidential term is increasingly becoming the global norm, particularly in democratic systems seeking policy stability and continuity.
To complement the proposed extension, the Committee recommended stricter regulation of campaign periods to curb prolonged political activities that distract public officials from governance. Prof. Prempeh explained that the dual approach is intended to reduce excessive campaigning and allow governments to concentrate on delivering on their mandates.
The report has been submitted for the President’s consideration and is expected to be studied alongside other proposed constitutional reforms. Any amendment to the presidential tenure would require broad public consultation and approval through the constitutional amendment process before it can take effect.
