Ghana’s constitutional review committee has proposed extending the presidential term from four to five years while retaining the two-term limit. The committee also recommended reducing the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 30, according to its final report presented to President John Mahama.
“Lawmakers will see the proposals before they are put to citizens through a referendum,” Minister of State for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu said.
Established shortly after Mahama assumed office in January, the committee’s review aims to strengthen governance under a constitution adopted in 1992. The recommendations come as Ghana continues to navigate a democratic system shaped by past coups, beginning with the 1966 overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah. The proposed changes would represent one of the most significant revisions to the nation’s political framework.
The report also advises limiting the number of ministers and deputies to 57 and prohibiting lawmakers from holding those positions.
The committee said the absence of a cap previously burdened state resources, particularly after former president Nana Akufo-Addo appointed more than 100 officials. Mahama, 67, secured a second term in December 2024 after promising constitutional reforms amid public frustration over debt restructuring.