Future presidents could serve five-year terms instead of the current four if the government’s proposed constitutional reforms are approved.
Cabinet has accepted a recommendation by the Constitution Review Committee to extend the presidential term of office from four years to five years, with Parliament’s tenure also increased to match.
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, announced the government’s position during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Thursday, July 30, while outlining Cabinet’s decisions on the Committee’s recommendations.
According to Dr Ayine, the proposed extension is intended to give governments more time to formulate, implement and assess policies before returning to the electorate.
“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,” he said.
He argued that the current four-year tenure leaves little room for effective governance because a significant portion of every administration is spent on transition and election-related activities.
“Our thinking is practical. Under the current four-year cycle, the early months of every administration are consumed by transition, and the final year is largely consumed by elections. That leaves precious little time for actual governance. A five-year term provides a more realistic timeframe for the formulation, implementation, and assessment of policy,” Dr Ayine stated.
The Attorney General, however, clarified that the proposed amendment would not apply to President John Dramani Mahama or any sitting president if adopted.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this recommendation, if carried through, will be in respect of future Presidents, not the current one.”
The proposal forms part of the government’s response to the recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh.
The Committee submitted its final report in February 2026 after nationwide consultations and proposed more than 200 constitutional amendments.
Proposed changes to entrenched provisions of the Constitution will require approval through a national referendum before they can take effect.
