The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for stronger governance safeguards if Ghana’s presidential tenure is extended from four to five years.
The union says extending the tenure should not be treated as a standalone constitutional change, particularly because a longer term could also prolong the impact of poor governance.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, TUC Secretary General Joshua Ansah said the union had taken note of the Constitution Review Commission’s recommendation to amend Article 66(1) and the government’s decision to accept it.
“The TUC draws attention to the fact that in the event of misgovernance, a five-year tenure also means citizens will have to endure the consequences for a longer period than under the current dispensation,” Mr. Ansah said.
He said the proposed extension must therefore be accompanied by measures that improve governance and strengthen confidence in Ghana’s democratic system.
“In other words, this recommendation is tied to other recommendations that are intended to strengthen and improve governance. One cannot, therefore, merely agree to tenure extension and leave everything else the same,” he said.
The TUC also backed the proposal to amend Article 70 to limit the President’s powers to appoint officials to key public institutions.
However, Mr. Ansah said the union, like the government, considered the four categories of public service appointments proposed by the CRC to be too vague.
“The TUC will work with the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) as it develops a more appropriate and practical classification system for limiting the appointment powers of the President,” he said.
According to the TUC, reducing partisan influence over key independent constitutional bodies would help strengthen their independence and improve public confidence in their work.
Article 66(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution currently provides for a four-year presidential term, with a president eligible to serve a maximum of two terms.
The Constitution Review Commission proposed extending the presidential tenure to five years through an amendment to Article 66(1). The government accepted the recommendation in its position on the CRC’s proposals published in July 2026.
The broader constitutional review process is now moving towards implementation, with the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) established to advance the accepted recommendations.
