Ghana is set to embark on one of its most significant constitutional reform processes in decades after the government endorsed proposals to extend the terms of office for the president and Members of Parliament from four years to five years. The proposed reforms, announced by Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dominic Ayine, form part of a broader constitutional review aimed at strengthening governance, improving policy implementation, and enhancing the country’s electoral process. Under the proposals, the minimum age required to contest for the presidency would be reduced from 40 years to 35 years, opening the door for younger Ghanaians to seek the nation’s highest political office.
The government has also accepted a recommendation to move Ghana’s general elections from the first week of December to the first week of November. Officials say the change would provide a longer transition period between the declaration of election results and the inauguration of a new president on January 7, allowing for smoother administrative and governmental handovers. According to Ayine, extending the tenure of elected leaders would give governments more time to implement long-term development policies and fulfill campaign promises without the constraints of the current four-year cycle. To implement the reforms, a constitutional review committee will draft two constitutional amendment bills, which are expected to be completed by October 2026.
The proposal to extend the tenure of the president will require approval through a national referendum expected to be held next year. Under Ghana’s Constitution, constitutional amendments affecting entrenched provisions can only be adopted if at least 75 percent of valid votes cast support the proposal, provided the required voter turnout threshold is met. If approved by voters, the reforms would represent one of the most far-reaching changes to Ghana’s constitutional and electoral system since the country returned to multi-party democracy in 1992, when four-year presidential and parliamentary terms were introduced. The proposed amendments are expected to spark nationwide debate among political parties, civil society organizations, constitutional experts, and the general public as Ghana considers reshaping key aspects of its democratic governance framework.
