Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP), Prof. Issac Boadi, has rejected proposals to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years, arguing that the move would weaken democratic accountability and expose the country to prolonged periods of poor governance.
His comments follow the government’s acceptance of the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendation to extend the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four to five years.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, announced that the proposal is intended to provide governments with more time to formulate, implement and assess policies, arguing that the current four-year electoral cycle limits effective governance.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Friday, July 31, Prof. Boadi said he had no objections to proposals relating to the age qualifications for presidential candidates, stressing that leadership competence should not be determined solely by age.
“If you look at the age limit, you can have someone who is grown and able to reason well. You can also have a young person who is very sharp and capable. So I don’t have an issue with the age bracket,” he said.
However, he expressed strong opposition to extending the presidential term.
“My issue is the five-year term,” he stated.
Prof. Boadi questioned the argument that governments require a longer tenure because they spend their first months in office appointing officials and their final year preparing for elections.
According to him, Ghana’s political environment remains active throughout an administration, leaving little distinction between governance and electioneering.
“The argument is that governments spend about six months appointing officials and another year preparing for elections, leaving only about two years for active administration. But in Ghana, right after elections, politics starts again. Election issues begin almost immediately,” he said.
He also raised legal questions about the proposed constitutional amendment, suggesting that extending the presidential term may require approval through a national referendum if it affects entrenched provisions of the 1992 Constitution.
Prof. Boadi acknowledged that the Attorney-General has indicated an implementation committee will determine which constitutional amendment procedures apply to the various proposals.
“My understanding is that the proposals have been grouped into categories, including those that require a referendum. The lawyers will have to confirm whether this proposal is one of them,” he noted.
The economist further argued that extending the presidential tenure could have serious consequences if the electorate chooses an ineffective or corrupt administration.
“I don’t understand this whole discussion. Imagine getting a president who is not performing, or a corrupt president, or someone sleeping on the job, and the country has to wait five years before voting again. We would be finished,” he cautioned.
Prof. Boadi maintained that Ghana’s governance challenges would be better addressed through stronger accountability mechanisms rather than longer terms in office, insisting that constitutional reforms should prioritise improving oversight and public accountability over extending political mandates.
