The Government has accepted a recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee to extend the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from the current four years to five years, arguing that the existing constitutional cycle does not provide sufficient time for governments to effectively implement and evaluate their development programmes.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, announced the government’s decision during a press conference at the Presidency on Thursday, July 30, shortly after the Constitutional Review Committee presented its final report to President John Dramani Mahama at Jubilee House.
The proposed extension does not affect the term of the current Executive and Parliament.
According to Dr. Ayine, the government believes that extending the mandate to five years would provide a more realistic timeframe for policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, while reducing the disruptions associated with Ghana’s frequent electoral cycle.
He explained that under the current four-year tenure, newly elected administrations spend their initial months settling into office and establishing governance structures, while the final year is largely dominated by preparations for the next general election. This, he noted, significantly limits the period available for the effective execution of campaign promises and national development initiatives.
“The government has accepted the recommendation to extend the term of office of the President from four years to five years, with the term of Parliament extended to correspond with this. Our thinking is practical. Under the current four-year cycle, the early months of every administration are consumed by transition, while the final year is dominated by election activities. A five-year term provides a more realistic timeframe for the formulation, implementation and assessment of every government’s programmes,” Dr. Ayine stated.
The proposed extension forms part of a broader package of constitutional reforms contained in the final report of the Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh.
The report, presented to President Mahama on Thursday, outlines a wide range of recommendations aimed at reviewing and strengthening Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. These include proposals relating to governance structures, the powers and responsibilities of state institutions, and reforms affecting the tenure and operation of elected public office holders.
If implemented, the proposal to extend the tenure of the President and Parliament would require constitutional amendments in accordance with the procedures set out in the 1992 Constitution, including the necessary parliamentary approvals and, where applicable, a national referendum.
