Ghana’s biggest opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has rejected the Constitutional Review Committee’s (CRC) recommendation to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four years to five years.
The NPP argued that the four-year presidential term provides an important mechanism for democratic accountability.
According to the NPP, the four-year presidential term also allows citizens to regularly assess the performance of elected governments and decide whether to renew or withdraw their mandate.
The NPP stressed that they had taken a different position from the government and the CRC on the proposed extension.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, September 17, 2026, the Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Sulemana Tampuli Alhassan stated, “The CRC recommended that the presidential term be extended from 4 to 5 years. Now, we have taken a different position from the position of government and the CRC. We do not support the extension, and we support the retention of the existing 4 years.
“And our justifications are that a four-year mandate promotes democratic accountability by allowing citizens to regularly assess the performance of a government and renew or withdraw their mandates.
Challenges relating to policy implementation, transition and the formation of government should be addressed through greater efficiency and timely decision-making, rather than by extension. Again, extending the term weakens the principle of regular accountability.”
It will be recalled that the CRC, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, recommended extending the presidential term from four years to five years as part of its broader constitutional reform proposals.
The Mahama government, through the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced that the government has accepted a key recommendation of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to extend the tenure of the President and Parliament from four years to five years.
Presenting the government’s White Paper on the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations, Dr Ayine stated, “The government has accepted a recommendation to extend the term of office of the president from four years to five years, with the term of Parliament extended to correspond with this”.
“Our thinking is practical. Under the current four-year cycle, the early months of every administration are consumed by transition matters, and the final year is largely consumed by elections.”
“A five-year term provides a more realistic time frame for the formulation, implementation and assessment of government policy.”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to hold a national referendum on proposed constitutional amendments.
According to President Mahama, the planned national referendum on proposed constitutional amendments will be held alongside the 2027 District Assembly Elections.
Speaking on his Resetting Ghana Tour Citizens’ Engagement in Bolgatanga as part of his two-day tour of the Upper East Region, Mahama stated, “We therefore want to add the referendum to the District Assembly elections next year. Next year, apart from voting for your Assembly Members, you will also be required to vote on the constitutional amendments”.
“If the referendum is successful, we will implement the amendments to the entrenched clauses. That is what we are doing with regard to governance.”
He further revealed that he will soon inaugurate the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to take the Government’s position paper and the Constitutional Review Commission’s reports and synthesise the two.
“For non-entrenched clauses, we only need Parliamentary approval. We will put them before Parliament, and Members will vote and pass them,” he said.
“Entrenched clauses require that we conduct a referendum. At least 40 percent of registered voters must vote, and 75 per cent of those who vote must say yes.”
@ghnow_ Hon. Nii Commey Donates Over 500 Mattresses and Chop Boxes to Students #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – NDCMUSICHQ
@ghnow_ Hon. Nii Commey says 550 students were supported during today’s donation exercise in the Domeabra Obom Constituency. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
