ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana’s government has approved a major constitutional reform proposal that could reshape the country’s democratic landscape by extending the presidential term from four years to five years while lowering the minimum age required to contest the presidency from 40 to 35 years.
The decision, announced on Thursday by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dominic Ayine, marks one of the most significant constitutional reform steps undertaken since Ghana adopted the 1992 Constitution. However, the proposals are not yet law and must still undergo the constitutional amendment process, including parliamentary approval and, where required, a national referendum before taking effect.
The government’s acceptance follows months of deliberations over recommendations submitted by Ghana’s Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by constitutional scholar Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, which presented its final report to President John Dramani Mahama in December 2025 after nationwide consultations.
Government Endorses Key Constitutional Changes
Among the most notable reforms accepted by the government are:
- Extension of the presidential term from four to five years.
- Reduction of the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 years to 35 years.
- Retention of Ghana’s existing two-term limit for presidents.
- Additional governance and institutional reforms aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening democratic institutions.
Justice Minister Dominic Ayine said the reforms are intended to improve governance continuity while creating broader opportunities for younger leaders to participate in national politics.
The government believes that a five-year tenure would provide elected administrations with sufficient time to implement long-term policies, complete major infrastructure projects, and deliver on campaign promises before returning to voters.
Why the Presidential Term Is Being Extended
Under Ghana’s current Constitution, presidents serve four-year terms and may be elected for a maximum of two terms.
Supporters of the proposed amendment argue that four years often prove insufficient for governments to fully execute ambitious development programmes, especially considering the time needed to establish a new administration during the first year and the political distractions that accompany election campaigns toward the end of a term.
The Constitutional Review Committee concluded that extending the tenure to five years would improve policy continuity and reduce the frequency of costly national elections while maintaining democratic accountability through the existing two-term limit.
The proposal has been under discussion since the committee submitted its recommendations late last year and has since formed part of Cabinet’s constitutional review process.
Lowering the Presidential Age Requirement
Equally significant is the government’s acceptance of the recommendation to reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years.
Currently, Article 62(b) of Ghana’s Constitution requires anyone seeking election as president to have attained the age of 40.
The Constitutional Review Committee argued that reducing the age threshold would reflect changing global leadership trends and encourage greater youth participation in national governance. It also noted that Ghana’s 1960 Constitution had previously set the presidential eligibility age at 35.
According to the committee, leadership ability should be determined by competence, integrity, experience and public confidence rather than age alone.
The proposal also aligns with submissions received during nationwide consultations, where several stakeholders advocated lowering the eligibility age to encourage younger political participation.
Constitutional Review Process
The current reforms stem from a comprehensive constitutional review initiated by President John Mahama shortly after assuming office.
The Constitutional Review Committee was inaugurated in January 2025 and spent nearly a year consulting citizens, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, academics, political parties and governance experts across Ghana before submitting its final report in December 2025.
The committee reviewed recommendations from previous constitutional reform exercises while examining areas requiring modernization under Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Cabinet subsequently held multiple meetings throughout 2026 to determine the government’s official position on the recommendations before announcing their acceptance.
Not Yet a Constitutional Amendment
Although the government has accepted the proposals, constitutional experts emphasize that the reforms are far from becoming law.
Ghana’s Constitution prescribes a rigorous amendment process depending on the provisions involved.
Changes to entrenched constitutional provisions require approval through a national referendum in addition to parliamentary processes.
Consequently, Ghanaians will ultimately have an opportunity to decide whether these significant reforms should become part of the country’s constitutional framework.
Supporters Cite Governance Continuity
Advocates of the five-year presidential term argue that governments require more time to implement transformational policies.
Many policy initiatives, they say, require several years before producing measurable outcomes.
Infrastructure development, industrialisation projects, healthcare reforms and educational investments often extend beyond a four-year electoral cycle.
Supporters further argue that extending the tenure could reduce political instability by allowing administrations to focus more on governance and less on constant electioneering.
Former Convention People’s Party Chairperson Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim has publicly backed the proposal, saying five years would give governments adequate time to implement policies effectively while preserving the constitutional two-term limit.
Critics Raise Accountability Concerns
The proposals have also generated considerable public debate.
Critics argue that extending presidential and parliamentary terms could reduce democratic accountability by increasing the period citizens must wait before voting governments out of office.
Others contend that Ghana’s democratic success since 1992 has been built upon regular electoral accountability every four years.
Some governance analysts warn that any extension of executive tenure must be accompanied by stronger institutional oversight to prevent abuses of power.
Public discussions have intensified across Ghana’s political landscape, with citizens expressing both support and opposition to the recommendations.
Youth Participation in Politics
The proposed reduction in the presidential age requirement has generally been viewed as an attempt to broaden political participation.
Supporters believe younger leaders can contribute innovation, technological understanding and fresh policy perspectives.
Several countries around the world have elected leaders under the age of 40, strengthening arguments that leadership capability should not be limited by relatively high constitutional age thresholds.
Traditional authorities in Ghana’s Upper West Region were among those that recommended reducing the presidential eligibility age to 35 during the constitutional consultation process.
Ghana’s Democratic Reputation
Since returning to constitutional rule in 1992, Ghana has built one of Africa’s strongest democratic reputations.
The country has conducted multiple peaceful elections and witnessed several democratic transfers of power between competing political parties.
The proposed reforms therefore represent an important constitutional milestone, with potential implications for governance, electoral competition and democratic accountability.
Government officials have stressed that the reforms are intended to strengthen—not weaken—Ghana’s democratic institutions through constitutional modernization.
Broader Constitutional Reform Agenda
Beyond the presidential term and age requirement, the Constitutional Review Committee recommended several additional reforms covering governance, Parliament, local government, judicial administration and public institutions.
Cabinet has been reviewing these proposals collectively as part of a broader effort to modernize Ghana’s constitutional framework.
Officials say further details regarding implementation will emerge as the legislative process advances.
What Happens Next?
Following the government’s endorsement, the recommendations are expected to move into the formal constitutional amendment process.
Depending on the specific constitutional provisions involved, Parliament will consider amendment bills, while entrenched provisions will require approval through a nationwide referendum before they can take effect.
Until those constitutional procedures are completed, Ghana’s current constitutional provisions—including the four-year presidential term and the minimum presidential age of 40 years—remain fully in force.
The outcome of the legislative process and any future referendum will determine whether Ghana proceeds with what could become one of the country’s most consequential constitutional reforms since the adoption of the 1992 Constitution.
