The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) has recommended extending the presidential term from four to five years, arguing that the additional year would allow governments more time to govern effectively.
Presenting the Committee’s report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22, CRC Chairman Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh emphasized that the recommendation does not include a third-term option for presidents.
According to Prof. Prempeh, the Committee found no public demand or political appetite for a third term.
“We couldn’t find a place for a third term for the President,” he stated, adding that even President Mahama himself was not in favour of it.
The Committee deliberately avoided reopening debates on term limits, focusing instead on measures to improve governance efficiency. Prof. Prempeh explained that submissions from several eminent persons, including former presidents, highlighted that four years is often inadequate for meaningful governance.
The CRC also noted a growing global trend toward five-year presidential terms and pointed out that a substantial portion of a four-year term is lost to administrative transition and electioneering.
“The claim was that the President spends about six months settling into office and nearly a year campaigning,” Prof. Prempeh explained.
To address this, the Committee paired the proposed term extension with recommendations to regulate campaign seasons, aiming to curb prolonged political activity that distracts from governance.
The overarching objective, he added, is to give governments sufficient time to implement policies without constant campaign pressure.
