The constitutional review panel has recommended extending Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years, arguing that governments need more time to govern effectively without the constant pull of election cycles.
The proposal, presented to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22, stops short of altering the two-term limit. Committee Chairman Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh said the committee found no public demand or 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 Mr. Mahama himself was not in favor of it.
Instead, the Committee focused on governance efficiency. It concluded that four years is insufficient for meaningful policy implementation, citing submissions from former presidents and other eminent figures. The panel also noted that five years has become an emerging global standard for presidential tenure.
Prof. Prempeh explained that much of a four-year term is consumed by transition and campaigning.
“The claim was that the President spends about six months settling into office and nearly a year campaigning,” he said.
To address this, the Committee paired its recommendation with proposals to regulate campaign seasons, aiming to reduce prolonged political activity that distracts from governing. The objective, according to the report, is to give administrations adequate time to implement policies without constant campaign pressure
President John Mahama, fulfilling a central campaign pledge, inaugurated an eight-member Constitutional Review Committee in February 2025. The committee, led by Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, was tasked with gathering written submissions and consulting stakeholders nationwide as it considers possible amendments to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. With a mandate to strengthen democratic governance, the committee had six months to deliver its recommendations to the presidency.
