The Constitutional Review Committee has proposed extending Ghana’s presidential term of office from four years to five years as part of a package of reforms aimed at strengthening governance and ensuring greater policy continuity.
The proposal was disclosed on Monday, December 22, when the Chairman of the Committee, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, formally presented the committee’s report to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House.
According to Prof Prempeh, the recommendation is intended to provide presidents with sufficient time to design, implement and consolidate long-term national policies without the constant pressure created by frequent election cycles. He explained that a longer term could contribute to a more stable governance framework and improved policy outcomes.
He emphasised that the proposal is not meant to weaken democratic accountability. Rather, it is anchored on strengthening state institutions, enhancing checks and balances, and promoting efficiency in public administration.
“The objective is to deepen good governance and ensure that national development policies are not routinely disrupted by short political cycles,” Prof Prempeh noted, adding that further details behind the committee’s reasoning would be made public in due course.
Responding to the presentation, President Mahama commended the committee for what he described as a thorough and reflective review process. He assured members of the committee and the public that the recommendations would be carefully studied and subjected to the appropriate constitutional processes and broad public consultation.
The proposed five-year presidential term is one of several reforms contained in the committee’s report and is expected to generate widespread national debate ahead of any potential constitutional amendments.
