The Ghanaian government has accepted a proposal to extend the presidential term limit from four to five years and lower the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35.
The decision follows a comprehensive review of the country’s 1992 Constitution by a committee established last year by President John Mahama.
However, the government clarified that the proposed extension will not benefit the current administration. Felix Ofosu, the minister for government communications, stated on Thursday that the constitutional amendment will not apply to incumbent President Mahama.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Dominic Ayine announced the government’s acceptance of the committee’s recommendations, stating the change is intended to give future administrations sufficient time to execute their agendas before facing reelection.
According to Ayine, the current four-year electoral cycle leaves governments with a narrow window for effective governance. He noted that transition processes at the start of a term and campaigning at the end frequently disrupt policy implementation.
An extension to five years, Ayine said, would provide a more practical timeframe for governance, project execution, and the public assessment of government performance.
In addition to the presidential term extension, the government accepted several other key recommendations including tenure for members of parliament will be extended to five years to align with the new presidential term. Presidential elections will be moved to the first week of November. This change is designed to ensure a sufficient transition period between the election and the inauguration on January 7.
The proposed amendments face a lengthy legislative process before they can be implemented. The bill must pass through several constitutional stages before being put to a national referendum in 2027.
To pass, the referendum requires a minimum voter turnout of 40 percent, with at least 75 percent of those voters casting ballots in favor of the amendment.
