Omanghana
Executive Director of the African Institute of Strategic Studies, Dr. Jonathan Asante-Otchere, has opposed a proposal to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years.
Speaking on Channel One TV, he said the political analyst warned that the proposed change could force Ghanaians to endure an additional year of hardship whenever an ineffective government is elected.
His comments follow a recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee to revise the country’s current four-year presidential and parliamentary terms.
“What if we get a bad president?” Dr. Asante-Otchere questioned, arguing that supporters of the proposal appeared to assume that Ghana would always elect capable and well-intentioned leaders.
He maintained that extending the tenure of an underperforming administration could allow governance failures to continue for an additional year, potentially causing damage that would be difficult to reverse.
According to him, the duration of a government’s mandate does not necessarily determine the level of national development it can deliver. Progress, he said, depends more on effective policies, competent leadership and strong institutions.
Dr. Asante-Otchere also rejected arguments that four years is inadequate because newly elected governments spend a considerable portion of their first year making appointments and settling into office.
He argued that a serious political party seeking power should prepare its cabinet, policy priorities and implementation strategy before contesting an election.
In his view, prolonged delays in making appointments and commencing government programs reflect inadequate preparation rather than a shortage of time.
The broader constitutional reform proposal would retain the existing two-term limit while increasing each presidential and parliamentary term from four to five years.
Other proposed reforms include reducing the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 30 years and moving presidential elections to November to provide more time for an orderly transfer of power.
The government’s receipt of a White Paper on the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations has intensified public debate over the proposed changes.
Dr. Asante-Otchere urged Ghana to prioritize stronger public institutions, efficient political transitions and greater accountability instead of extending the tenure of elected officials.
He maintained that an effective administration should be capable of implementing its development program within the existing four-year framework, provided it assumes office with a prepared team and clearly defined policies.
Source: Omanghana
