The Ghanaian government has endorsed a recommendation to lengthen the presidential term from four to five years, Justice Minister Dominic Ayine announced on Thursday. This move follows a review of the 1992 constitution initiated by President John Dramani Mahama last year.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice explained that the parliamentary term will also be extended to align with the new presidential term duration. The rationale behind this change is to provide administrations with more time to implement their agendas, as early months often involve transition activities and the final year is dominated by election preparations.
Key Constitutional Amendments Proposed
- The minimum age for presidential candidates will be lowered from 40 to 35 years, adjusting the committee's initial recommendation of 30 years.
- Presidential elections are scheduled for the first week of November to ensure sufficient time before the January 7 inauguration.
Another committee will be formed to draft two constitutional amendment bills, expected to be completed by October 2026. The bill concerning term limits will undergo several procedural steps before a national referendum is held in 2027. For the referendum to pass, at least 40% of registered voters must participate, with a minimum of 75% voting in favor.
