GHANA'S GOVERNMENT APPROVES RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERM FROM FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, LOWERS MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT TO 35.(PHOTO)

 Ghana's government approves recommendation to extend presidential term from four to five years, lowers minimum age requirement to 35

Ghana's government has approved in principle a proposal to extend the tenure of both the president and Parliament from four years to five years as part of a broader constitutional reform process.

The recommendation came from a committee established by President John Dramani Mahama in 2025 to review the country's 1992 Constitution. Announcing the decision on Thursday, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, said the extension is aimed at giving elected governments more time to implement their policies, noting that new administrations spend their early months settling into office while the final year is often dominated by election activities.

The government also accepted, with modifications, the committee's proposal to lower the minimum age for presidential candidates. Instead of reducing it from 40 to 30 years as recommended, the government proposed a new minimum age of 35 years.

In addition, presidential elections will now be scheduled for the first week of November to create a wider gap before the January 7 inauguration.

Ayine disclosed that another committee will be constituted to draft two constitutional amendment bills, which are expected to be completed by October 2026.

The proposed amendment on presidential term limits must still pass through the required legislative process before being presented to Ghanaians in a national referendum in 2027. For the referendum to succeed, at least 40% of registered voters must participate, while a minimum of 75% of those who vote must support the amendment.