Government Backs Five-Year Presidential Term, Proposes Lowering Eligibility Age to 35

The Government of Ghana has accepted a proposal to extend the tenure of the President and Parliament from four years to five years as part of its response to recommendations made by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC). It has also agreed to reduce the minimum age required to contest the presidency from 40 to 35 years.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine announced the government’s position during a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, where he outlined Cabinet’s decisions on the committee’s recommendations.

Government Explains Five-Year Proposal

According to Dr. Ayine, the government believes a five-year mandate would give elected administrations enough time to implement policies and evaluate their impact before returning to the electorate.

He said the current four-year cycle leaves limited room for governance because new administrations spend their early months on transition activities, while preparations for the next election often dominate the final year of the term.

The proposal also extends the tenure of Members of Parliament to five years so that both arms of government remain on the same electoral cycle.

Age Requirement to Be Reduced

The government also accepted, in principle, a recommendation to lower the minimum age for presidential candidates.

While the Constitutional Review Committee proposed reducing the threshold from 40 to 30 years, the government instead settled on 35 years as the preferred minimum age.

Officials say the change would widen opportunities for younger leaders while maintaining what they consider an appropriate level of experience for the country’s highest office.

Part of Broader Constitutional Reforms

The proposals form part of a wider constitutional review process aimed at strengthening Ghana’s governance framework.

The Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by constitutional lawyer Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, submitted recommendations covering more than 200 proposed constitutional amendments after nationwide consultations.

Beyond the presidential term and eligibility age, the government accepted or accepted in principle several other recommendations, including:

• Electing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
• Holding presidential elections within the first week of November.
• Abolishing the death penalty and replacing it with life imprisonment.
• Expanding Parliament to 300 members, with additional seats reserved through proportional representation for women, young people and persons with disabilities.
• Allowing dual citizens to contest parliamentary seats and occupy certain public offices, subject to constitutional amendments.

Although the government has endorsed the proposals, they do not take effect immediately.

Many of the recommendations require constitutional amendment procedures. Changes to entrenched provisions of the 1992 Constitution would also require approval through a national referendum before they can become law.

The government has indicated that it hopes to complete the necessary legislative work and conduct the referendum alongside the 2027 District Assembly elections to reduce costs.

Debate Expected to Continue

The proposed reforms are expected to generate significant public discussion.

Supporters argue that a longer presidential term could improve policy continuity and reduce the pressure of frequent election cycles. Others believe lowering the presidential age requirement could encourage greater youth participation in national leadership.

Critics, however, are expected to scrutinize the proposals closely, particularly those relating to the length of presidential and parliamentary terms, before any constitutional changes are put to a public vote.

For now, the government’s endorsement marks an important milestone in Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process, with the final decision resting on Parliament, the constitutional amendment process and, where required, the Ghanaian electorate.