Omanghana
The Government of Ghana has accepted a recommendation to extend the terms of the President and Members of Parliament from four to five years as part of proposed reforms to the 1992 Constitution.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine announced the government’s position on July 30, 2026, while presenting its response to the final report of the Constitution Review Committee.
The proposal represents government policy but has not yet changed the Constitution. It must complete the legally required amendment process, including a national referendum for changes affecting entrenched provisions.
Dr. Ayine said the proposed five-year term was intended to give governments more time to develop, implement and assess major national policies.
According to the government, the early months of a new administration are usually dominated by transition activities, ministerial appointments and the establishment of policy structures. The final year of the four-year term is also heavily influenced by election campaigning.
The current arrangement, the Attorney-General explained, leaves governments with a relatively limited period for uninterrupted policy implementation.
“A five-year term provides a more realistic timeframe for the formulation, implementation and assessment of policy,” he stated.
The government said the corresponding extension of Parliament’s tenure was necessary to keep the presidential and parliamentary electoral cycles aligned.
Dr. Ayine clarified that the proposed change would apply only to future presidents and would not extend President John Dramani Mahama’s current tenure.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this recommendation, if carried through, will be in respect of future presidents, not the current one,” he said.
Presidential Candidacy Age to Be Reduced
The government has also accepted in principle a recommendation to lower the minimum age for presidential candidates.
The Constitution currently requires a presidential candidate to be at least 40 years old. Although the committee proposed reducing the threshold to 30, Cabinet modified the recommendation and settled on 35.
Dr. Ayine said the existing age requirement excludes otherwise qualified citizens from contesting the presidency solely because of what the government considers an arbitrary threshold.
The proposed age of 35, he said, would expand political participation while ensuring candidates had attained a reasonable level of experience and maturity.
Presidential Election Proposed for November
Under another accepted recommendation, Ghana’s presidential election would be moved from December to a date within the first week of November.
The Electoral Commission would determine the precise date through a constitutional instrument.
The government said holding the election earlier would provide more time to resolve disputes and ensure an orderly transition before the January 7 inauguration.
Presidential election petitions would have to be filed within 14 days after the declaration of results. The Supreme Court would then be required to determine each petition within 30 days.
The Electoral Commission would also be compelled to disclose relevant election data to the court and the parties involved in the case.
Supreme Court Membership to Be Capped at 19
The government has supported the introduction of a fixed numerical limit for the Supreme Court.
While the Constitution Review Committee recommended a maximum of 15 justices, the government proposed a ceiling of 19, comprising the Chief Justice and 18 other justices.
According to Dr. Ayine, a constitutional cap would control public expenditure and improve efficiency while maintaining a sufficiently large bench to discharge the court’s responsibilities.
The government also supports a single, non-renewable 10-year term for the Chief Justice or service until the constitutional retirement age, whichever comes first.
Dual Citizens Could Contest Parliamentary Elections
The government has accepted a proposal allowing Ghanaians by birth who hold citizenship in another country to contest parliamentary elections without renouncing their second nationality.
Under the existing constitutional arrangement, dual citizens are prohibited from serving as Members of Parliament unless they first relinquish their other citizenship.
The government argued that the restriction was inconsistent with Ghana’s efforts to engage its diaspora and failed to reflect the realities of modern citizenship.
The proposed change has not yet taken effect and will require the appropriate constitutional amendment.
Other Major Proposals
The government also supports capping Parliament at 300 members. Under the proposal, 276 MPs would continue to be elected directly from constituencies, while 24 seats would be filled through proportional representation involving women, young people and persons with disabilities.
Additional reforms include the direct election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, the creation of an Independent Public Emoluments Commission and the separation of the offices of Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
The government has also accepted proposals to abolish the death penalty, establish a right of abode for people of African descent in the diaspora and introduce a citizen-led process for initiating constitutional amendments.
Amendment Bills Expected by October 2026
A Constitution Review Implementation Committee will prepare two separate amendment bills.
The first bill will cover non-entrenched constitutional provisions. It must be published in the Gazette, introduced in Parliament, referred to the Council of State and approved by at least two-thirds of all Members of Parliament before receiving presidential assent.
The second bill will address entrenched provisions and must follow the more demanding procedure outlined under Article 290 of the Constitution.
It will be referred to the Council of State, published in the Gazette for at least six months, laid before Parliament and submitted to voters in a national referendum.
For the referendum to succeed, at least 40 per cent of eligible registered voters must participate, and at least 75 per cent of the valid votes cast must support the amendments.
The government expects both draft bills to be completed by October 2026. It intends to hold the referendum on the entrenched provisions alongside the 2027 District Assembly elections to reduce costs.
Until those processes are completed, Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary terms remain four years, the minimum presidential candidacy age remains 40, and the other proposed constitutional changes have no legal effect.
Source: Omanghana
