Ghana Backs Five-Year Presidential Term, Lowers Eligibility Age to 35

Ghana’s government has approved key constitutional reform proposals that would extend the presidential term from four to five years and lower the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35, marking a major step in the country’s ongoing constitutional review process.

The reforms were announced on Thursday after the Constitution Review Committee submitted its final report to President John Dramani Mahama. The committee, established by Mahama in 2025, was tasked with reviewing the country’s 1992 Constitution and recommending amendments aimed at strengthening governance.

Addressing journalists, Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, confirmed that the government had endorsed the proposal to extend the tenure of both the President and Parliament.

“The government has accepted the recommendation to extend the term of office of the president from four years to five years,” Ayine said.

The government also approved a proposal to increase the tenure of Parliament from four to five years, ensuring that both the executive and legislature remain on the same electoral cycle.

While the Constitution Review Committee had recommended reducing the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 30, the government opted for a more moderate reform by lowering the threshold to 35.

According to the committee, the current four-year tenure leaves governments with limited time to implement their programmes, as the first year is largely spent on appointments and policy transitions, while the final year is often dominated by election campaigns.

It argued that a five-year term would provide administrations with sufficient time to deliver on their development agenda, improve policy continuity and enhance the quality of governance.

Ghana is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, having conducted regular multiparty elections and witnessed peaceful transfers of power since returning to constitutional rule in 1992.

However, the proposed amendments are yet to become law. Under Ghana’s constitutional amendment process, the reforms must first be approved by voters in a national referendum expected to be held in 2027.

The referendum must also meet the constitutional requirements for voter turnout and approval before the amendments can take effect.

If endorsed by the electorate, the reforms would rank among the most significant constitutional changes in Ghana since the adoption of the 1992 Constitution, reshaping the country’s political landscape and electoral timetable.