Ghana's government has endorsed constitutional reforms that would extend the presidential term from four to five years and reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates to 35.
The decision follows the submission of a constitutional review committee's final report, established last year by President John Dramani Mahama to examine potential changes to the country's governance framework.
Key Recommendations
- Extend the presidential term to five years to allow administrations more effective governing time, as the current four-year cycle leaves just over two years for governance due to transitional periods and election campaigns.
- Align the parliamentary term with the presidency by also increasing it to five years.
- Lower the minimum age for presidential candidates from the current threshold to 35, a revision from the committee's initial recommendation of 30.
Justice Minister Dominic Ayine confirmed the government's acceptance of these proposals, emphasizing that a five-year term could enhance democratic accountability by providing governments with a longer timeframe to implement their agendas.
The proposed amendments will be subject to a national referendum scheduled for 2027, which requires a significant voter turnout and approval rate to be enacted.
Ghana, known for its robust democratic record since 1992 and as a leading producer of gold and cocoa in Africa, continues to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening its political institutions.
