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The Constitution Review Committee has proposed extending Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years, arguing that the change would give governments more time to govern effectively and deliver on their mandates.
Presenting the Committee’s report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22, 2025, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, clarified that the recommendation does not include an option for a third presidential term.
According to Prof. Prempeh, the Committee found no public demand or political appetite for a third-term presidency. He noted that the issue of term limits was deliberately avoided to prevent reopening contentious constitutional debates.
“We couldn’t find a place for a third term for the President,” Prof. Prempeh stated, adding that President Mahama himself was not in favour of such an option.
He explained that the Committee was influenced by submissions from several eminent Ghanaians, including former presidents, who argued that a four-year term is often insufficient for meaningful governance. The Committee also observed that the emerging global standard for presidential tenure in many democracies is five years.
The report further highlighted concerns that a significant portion of the current four-year term is lost to administrative transition and electioneering. Prof. Prempeh noted that presidents typically spend about six months settling into office and nearly a year engaged in campaign activities ahead of the next election.
To address these challenges, the Committee paired the proposed extension with recommendations to regulate campaign seasons. The aim, according to Prof. Prempeh, is to reduce prolonged political campaigning and allow governments adequate time to focus on policy implementation without constant electoral pressure.
