The Ghanaian government has accepted a proposal to extend the presidential term from four years to five years as part of a broader constitutional reform process, although the change will not apply to incumbent President John Mahama.
Gatekeepers News reports that the proposal emerged from a review of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution conducted by a constitutional review committee established by Mahama last year.
Speaking on Thursday, Minister for Government Communications Felix Ofosu clarified that the proposed amendment would not benefit the current president if eventually adopted.
Earlier, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Dominic Ayine announced that the government had accepted the committee’s recommendation, explaining that the reform is aimed at giving future administrations more time to implement their programmes before seeking re-election.
According to Ayine, the current four-year electoral cycle leaves governments with limited time to deliver on their development agenda, as transition activities at the start of an administration and election campaigns toward the end of the term consume a significant portion of the tenure.
He said extending the presidential term to five years would provide a more realistic timeframe for governance, policy implementation and the evaluation of government performance.
The government also endorsed a recommendation to extend the tenure of Parliament to align with the proposed new presidential term.
In addition, it approved a proposal to move presidential elections to the first week of November, creating a longer transition period before the inauguration of a new president on January 7.
The proposed constitutional amendment is expected to undergo the required legislative processes before being presented to Ghanaians in a national referendum scheduled for 2027.
For the amendment to take effect, at least 40 per cent of registered voters must participate in the referendum, while a minimum of 75 per cent of those who vote must approve the proposal.
