The Constitutional Review Committee has proposed lowering the minimum age to run for president from 40 to 30 years.
Prof. Prempeh, the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, highlighted that the proposed amendment to Article 62(b) of the Constitution is to allow younger and eligible citizens contest the highest political office in the country.
The committee also proposed the amendments to Article 68(5) to ensure that the salary and allowances of the President are subject to taxation.
Under the CRC proposal, the president will be required to pay indirect taxes on goods and services, as well as import duties, like all other citizens.
Prof. Prempeh stated, “The Committee recommends an amendment to clauses (1) and (2) of Article 71 to provide that the salaries and allowances and the facilities and privileges available to persons holding public office generally, including the President and the holders of the other offices listed under clauses (1) and (2), shall be determined by the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission”.
Additionally, the Constitution Review Committee recommended a one-year extension of Ghana’s presidential term.
The Committee proposed that Ghana’s presidential term be moved from the current four-year tenure to a five-year term to enable governments more time to govern.
Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, the Chairman of the Committee Presenting the Committee’s report to President John Mahama on Monday, December 22, made this known.
According to the Chair of the committee, they were persuaded by submissions from several eminent persons inculding former president.
He revealed that they argued that the four years is insufficient for meaningful governance, adding that the committee has noted the global standard for presidential tenure is five years.
They cited concern that the President spends about six months settling into office and nearly a year campaigning, noting that a portion of a four-year term is lost to administrative transition and election year.
Prof. Prempeh explained, “The claim was that the President spends about six months settling into office and nearly a year campaigning”.
He however, revealed that the committee could not find a place for a third term for a president.
According to the Chair of the Committee, nobody really seemed to like the idea of a third term.
Professor H Kwasi Prempeh stated, “We couldn’t find a place for a third term; nobody really seemed to like it, there was really no demand for it”.
He further noted that even the President, John Dramani Mahama, himself was not in favour of it.
According to the chair, the committee mainly focus on improving governance efficiency.
Additionally, the committee propose a review of how heads of state-owned enterprises are appointed.
Also, they called for the powers of the Attorney-General to be reviewed and some taken away and given to an Ethics Commission to handle cases of corruption.
“ORAL will be done by some other body. We want to take some of the powers of the A-G and give them to an Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission,” the chair added.
The Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), with other members being Justice Sophia Adinyira, a retired Supreme Court Justice; Professor Kwame Karikari; former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei; Dr Godwin Djokoto; Ibrahim Tanko Amidu; Dr Esi Ansah; and Dr Rainer Akumperigeya.
They were tasked by President John Mahama with the mandate to review the 1992 Constitution and propose reforms to strengthen Ghana’s democratic governance framework.
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The Constitutional Review Committee recommends lowering the minimum age to run for president from 40 to 30 years.#3NewsGH #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/QBakDVjiKG
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) December 22, 2025