Gov’t backs five-year terms for President, Parliament

The Government has accepted a recommendation to extend the tenure of the President and Parliament from four years to five years as part of its response to the final report of the Constitution Review Committee.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, announced the decision during the Government Accountability Series on the government’s position on the committee’s recommendations, describing the proposal as a practical reform to improve governance and enhance policy implementation.

He said the current four-year electoral cycle limits the time available for governments to effectively implement their programmes, as the initial months are often spent on transition activities while the final year is dominated by election-related processes.

“Our thinking is practical. Under the current four-year cycle, the early months of every administration are consumed by transition matters, and the final year is largely consumed by elections. A five-year term provides a more realistic time frame for the formulation, implementation and assessment of government policy,” Dr. Ayine stated.

He explained that Parliament’s tenure would also be extended to five years to align with the proposed presidential term.

According to the Attorney-General, the proposal forms part of a wider constitutional reform agenda arising from the work of the Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh. The committee was established by President John Dramani Mahama in January 2025 to undertake a comprehensive review of the 1992 Constitution.

Dr. Ayine noted that the committee’s recommendations underwent extensive constitutional, legal and policy analysis before Cabinet approved the government’s position.

He said the proposed reform is intended to strengthen governance by giving elected governments sufficient time to implement development programmes while reducing the frequency and cost of national elections.

The proposal will be considered under the constitutional reform process to be undertaken by the Constitution Review Implementation Committee.

Amendments to the Constitution will require parliamentary approval, while changes to entrenched provisions must also be endorsed through a national referendum expected to be held alongside the 2027 District Assembly elections.