Ghana Constitutional Review: Government Backs 5-Year Term & Age Limit Reduction
By FrimPong | The Breaking Desk Published: July 30, 2026
Key Details
- Tenure Extension: The government accepted the Constitutional Review Committee's (CRC) recommendation to extend the terms of office for both the President and Parliament from four years to five years.
- Reasoning for Extension: Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine stated that the current four-year cycle is inefficient because transition matters dominate the first year and election preparation consumes the final year, leaving insufficient time to execute and evaluate policy.
- Presidential Eligibility Age: The CRC initially proposed lowering the minimum age to run for president from 40 to 30 years. The government accepted the reduction in principle but modified the minimum age to 35 years.
- Source of Announcement: The updates were announced by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, during the presentation of the government's official White Paper on the CRC recommendations.
Explained
ACCRA — The government of Ghana has officially accepted key recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to reshape the country's governance framework, including extending the tenure of office for both the Executive and Parliament from four to five years.
Presenting the official government White Paper on the CRC report, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, explained that the policy shift is designed to give elected administrations adequate time to execute long-term development plans and evaluate their impact before facing the electorate.
Under the current four-year electoral cycle, political transitions and election preparation consume a disproportionate share of an administration's tenure.
"Our thinking is practical. Under the current four-year cycle, the early months of every administration are consumed by transition matters, and elections largely consume the final year," Dr. Ayine stated. "A five-year term provides a more realistic time frame for the formulation, implementation, and assessment of government policy."
Presidential Eligibility Age Lowered to 35
Alongside tenure extensions, the government endorsed a CRC proposal to widen political access for younger citizens by reducing the minimum age requirement for presidential candidates.
While the CRC initially recommended lowering the eligibility threshold from 40 years to 30 years, the government settled on a compromise of 35 years.
Dr. Ayine confirmed the modification, noting that the specific legal and constitutional details will be finalized through the constitutional review process.
What Happens Next? The Legal and Referendum Pathway
Implementing these proposed changes will require navigating distinct legislative procedures depending on the nature of the constitutional provisions involved:
- Extending Presidential Tenure: Because Article 66 governing the presidential term is an entrenched provision under Ghana's 1992 Constitution, any alteration requires a national referendum. The referendum must record a minimum 40% voter turnout, with at least 75% of voters approving the amendment.
- Parliamentary Tenure & Age Limits: Non-entrenched provisions can be amended directly through Parliament, requiring a two-thirds majority vote among lawmakers.
If passed, these reform measures would represent one of the most significant structural overhauls to Ghana's governance system since the adoption of the 1992 Constitution.
Read:
FrimPong
Comments ()