Constitutional Review Committee proposes Five-year Presidential term
The Constitutional Review Committee has proposed a one-year extension of Ghana’s presidential term, recommending a shift from the current four-year tenure to a five-year term to allow governments more time to govern effectively.
Presenting the Committee’s report on Monday, December 22, Chairman of the Committee, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, clarified that the proposal does not include a third-term option for presidents. According to him, the Committee found neither public demand nor political appetite for a third term.
“We couldn’t find a place for a third term for the President,” Prof. Prempeh said, adding that even the President, John Dramani Mahama, himself was not in favour of it. He explained that the Committee deliberately avoided reopening debates around term limits, focusing instead on improving governance efficiency.
Prof. Prempeh noted that the Committee was persuaded by submissions from several eminent persons, including former occupants of the presidency, who argued that four years is insufficient for meaningful governance.
He said the Committee also observed that the emerging global standard for presidential tenure is five years.
The Committee further cited concerns that a significant portion of a four-year term is lost to administrative transition and electioneering.
“The claim was that the President spends about six months settling into office and nearly a year campaigning,” Prof. Prempeh explained.
To address this, the Committee coupled the proposed term extension with recommendations on regulating campaign seasons, aimed at reducing prolonged political activity that distracts from governance. The objective, he said, is to give governments adequate time to implement policies without constant campaign pressure.
