A committee tasked with collating recommendations on the review of Ghana’s constitution on Monday presented it’s final report, proposing the extension of the presidential tenure from four years to five years.
Ghana’s 1992 constitution provides for a maximum of two four-year terms for presidents.
However, the committee chaired by Law Professor Henry Kwesi Prempeh highlighted the popular opinion among Ghanaians that four years were inadequate for any meaningful impact by a president due to transitional periods and political campaigns for re-election.
Presenting summaries of the report to President John Dramani Mahama, Prempeh said the proposal seeks to create a more stable governance framework by allowing presidents adequate time to design, implement and consolidate long-term national policies without the constant pressure of frequent election cycles.
The committee also recommended a drop in the age qualification for presidents from 40 years to 30 years, a stop to the practice of nominating members of parliament as ministers of state, a fixed campaign season and a single 10-year tenure for the leadership of the electoral commission.
“Many of the recommendations you’ve made are quite revolutionary. Some are quite radical, but I think it’s in the interest of our democracy,” Mahama said after receiving the committee’s report.
Mahama set up the committee in January, tasking them to collate the inputs Ghanaians for the review of the constitution.
by Judah Adjei Mensah