News · Michael Teye Amartey

GOV’T ACCEPTS FIVE-YEAR PRESIDENTIAL TERM, PROPOSES AGE LIMIT OF 35.

The government has accepted a major recommendation from the Constitutional Review Committee, CRC to extend the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four years to five years . 

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine , announced the decision yesterday while presenting the government’s White Paper on the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations. 

According to him, a longer term of office will give governments adequate time to implement and assess their policies before facing voters again.

Dr Ayine explained that the current four-year electoral cycle places significant constraints on governance because the early months of every administration are devoted to transition activities, while the final year is largely dominated by election campaigns. 

The Attorney-General also disclosed that the government has, in principle, accepted the committee’s proposal to reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates. 

However, while the Constitutional Review Committee recommended lowering the age from 40 to 30 years, the government has proposed setting the minimum age at 35 years instead. 

The proposals will form part of the broader constitutional reform process, with further details expected as government works to implement the approved recommendations.