Ghana's government has officially accepted a constitutional review committee's recommendation to extend the presidential term from four to five years, Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dominic Ayine announced on Thursday, July 30, 2026. The move is part of broader constitutional reforms aimed at improving governance efficiency.
Government Justification for Term Extension
Ayine stated that the parliamentary term will also be extended to align with the new presidential timeline. President John Dramani Mahama established the constitutional review committee last year, and the government has now adopted several of its proposals. According to Ayine, the early months of any administration are consumed by transition matters, and the final year is largely consumed by electioneering. He argued that a five-year term would give administrations meaningful time to implement policies without being squeezed by political transitions at both ends.
Additional Constitutional Changes
The government also accepted, in principle, a proposal to reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates from the current 40 years. However, it modified the committee's suggestion, settling on 35 years rather than the 30 the review body had proposed. Additionally, presidential elections will be shifted to the first week of November, creating a wider window between the vote and the January 7 inauguration date.
Path to Implementation
A new committee will be established to draft two amendment bills, both expected to be ready by October 2026. The bill dealing with term limits will then go through several legislative stages before being put to a national referendum in 2027. For the referendum to succeed, at least 40% of registered voters must participate, and at least 75% of those who vote must support the change. That threshold makes the outcome uncertain, and public debate on the proposals is expected to intensify in the months ahead.
Related Developments
In a similar vein, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the Peoples Democratic Party's flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election, has proposed a six-year single term for Nigeria's president and state governors. Atiku wrote to the National Assembly requesting a constitutional amendment to allow for a single six-year term, arguing that it would reduce election-related distractions and promote long-term planning. However, no formal action has been taken on his proposal yet.
