The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opposed plans to increase Ghana’s presidential tenure from four years to five, arguing that voters should not have to wait longer to assess the performance of an elected government.
Gushegu Member of Parliament Sulemana Tampuli Alhassan announced the party’s position at a media briefing on Thursday, September 17, saying the NPP disagrees with both the government and the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) on the proposed extension.
“The CRC recommended that the presidential term be extended from four to five 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 four years.”
According to Mr. Tampuli, the four-year mandate provides citizens with a regular opportunity to evaluate an administration’s record at the ballot box.
He said the difficulties governments may face in settling into office, implementing policies and managing transitions should not be used as the basis for lengthening the tenure of elected presidents.
Instead, he called for greater efficiency and faster decision-making within the existing constitutional timeframe.
“Extending the term weakens the principle of regular accountability,” he added.
The NPP’s position comes amid ongoing work on proposed amendments to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. The CRC, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, submitted its final report to President John Dramani Mahama in December 2025, with the extension of the presidential term among its recommendations.
The committee argued for a five-year presidential tenure as part of broader reforms intended to improve governance and give administrations more time to implement their programmes.
The proposal was subsequently accepted by government, which also backed extending Parliament’s tenure from four years to five.
President Mahama had earlier disclosed the five-year term proposal among the key recommendations emerging from the constitutional review process, alongside other reforms including the election of District Chief Executives and changes to the composition of government.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
