Ghana Government Approves Extension of Presidential Term to 5 Years.
Move to five-year tenure and lower candidate age threshold set for 2027 referendum as Ghana seeks longer policy windows
ACCRA, GHANA – The iNews Times | The Ghana presidential term extension proposal has received formal government approval, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing constitutional review process. The West African nation plans to lengthen the presidential term from four to five years while lowering the minimum age for presidential candidates to 35.
President John Dramani Mahama’s administration accepted key recommendations from a constitution review committee whose final report was submitted on Thursday. Justice Minister Dominic Ayine confirmed the decisions while briefing journalists, underscoring the government’s intent to give successive administrations more time to deliver on their mandates.
In this report, we examine the key developments, reactions from stakeholders, and the broader implications.
Background of the Story
Ghana has maintained uninterrupted democratic governance since the adoption of its 1992 Constitution, establishing itself as one of Africa’s more stable democracies and a leading global producer of gold and cocoa. The current four-year presidential cycle has long drawn quiet criticism for compressing effective governing time.
Last year, President Mahama established a Constitution Review Committee to examine the foundational document and recommend updates suited to contemporary governance realities. The panel completed its work and formally presented its final report to the president on Thursday, setting the stage for the latest reforms.
Key Developments
The government has accepted the committee’s central recommendation to extend the president’s term of office from four years to five years. It also endorsed aligning the tenure of members of parliament with the same five-year cycle to ensure synchronisation between the executive and legislature.
On the age of eligibility, the committee had proposed lowering the minimum age for presidential candidates from the current 40 years to 30. The government instead settled on 35 years. Justice Minister Dominic Ayine stated clearly that “the government has accepted the recommendation to extend the term of office of the president from four years to five years.”
The committee’s reasoning centred on practical governance. Under the existing four-year term, the first six months are typically consumed by appointments and the establishment of a new administration, while the final year is dominated by election-related activities. This leaves successive governments with only a little over two years of meaningful policy implementation. Extending the term to five years, the panel argued, would allow more sustained focus on programmes and strengthen democratic accountability by giving elected leaders clearer space to deliver results.
Reactions from Stakeholders
Justice Minister Dominic Ayine, speaking after the report’s submission, presented the government’s position in measured terms. “The government has accepted the recommendation to extend the term of office of the president from four years to five years,” he told journalists, adding that the synchronisation of parliamentary terms was equally endorsed.
While formal statements from opposition parties and civil society groups were still emerging at the time of reporting, the proposals are expected to generate robust national debate. Constitutional scholars and governance advocates have previously highlighted the need for longer policy horizons in African democracies without undermining regular electoral accountability. The iNews Times will continue to track responses as the process advances.
Implications
The Ghana presidential term extension carries weight beyond procedural change. Longer tenures could improve policy continuity in critical sectors such as mining, cocoa, infrastructure and energy, areas central to Ghana’s economic profile. At the same time, the reduced age threshold opens the political space to a younger generation of contenders, potentially injecting fresh energy into presidential contests.
Electorally, synchronising presidential and parliamentary terms may streamline campaign cycles and reduce the frequency of national elections. Yet any dilution of the four-year rhythm will face scrutiny over whether it genuinely enhances accountability or merely lengthens the hold on power. The requirement for a national referendum ensures that the ultimate decision rests with Ghanaian voters rather than the political class alone.
What Happens Next
The proposed amendments cannot take effect without approval in a national referendum scheduled for 2027. That vote must satisfy constitutional thresholds on both voter turnout and the margin of approval. In the intervening period, public education, parliamentary debate and civil society engagement are expected to intensify as Ghanaians weigh the merits of the changes.
Conclusion
By endorsing a five-year presidential term and a 35-year eligibility threshold, the Ghanaian government has placed a consequential set of reforms on the national agenda. The Ghana presidential term extension proposal now moves from committee recommendation to the court of public opinion, with the 2027 referendum set to determine whether these adjustments become part of the country’s democratic architecture. The iNews Times will remain attentive to the unfolding conversation as Ghana continues to refine the institutions that have underpinned its democratic record since 1992.
