Democracy and Development Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor John Osae-Kwapong, asserts that extending the presidential term from four to five years will not inherently enhance governance or development outcomes in Ghana.
During a radio discussion on Tuesday (23 December), Prof. Osae-Kwapong contended that the effectiveness of leadership is not determined by the duration of time spent in office, but rather by political will, accountability, and the consistency of policy implementation.
“I don’t believe that adding one year is what will solve Ghana’s governance or development challenges,” he stated.
He recognised that the CRC’s proposal brings Ghana in line with regional counterparts, where five-year presidential terms are prevalent, yet he warned against the assumption that extended terms result in improved outcomes.
“We’ve seen leaders serve many years, both in democratic and non-democratic systems, without delivering meaningful development,” he remarked.
Prof. Osae-Kwapong indicated that if a government performs effectively within a four-year term, voters are inclined to renew its mandate, thereby ensuring continuity within the current two-term framework.
In response to concerns that frequent elections may hinder governance, he highlighted another CRC recommendation aimed at limiting extended campaign periods as a more viable solution.
“If perpetual campaigning is the problem, the cure is to regulate the campaign period, not to extend the term of office,” he argued.
On the proposal to move general elections from December to November, the CDD Fellow said the change could improve political transitions, particularly in the event of runoff elections or election petitions.
“Moving elections to November gives more time to resolve disputes and manage transitions before the January 7 swearing-in,” he explained.
Prof. Osae-Kwapong also weighed in on proposals to reduce the minimum presidential age to 30, describing it as an opportunity to test whether younger candidates would actively contest national leadership.
“It will be interesting to see whether a 30- or 35-year-old would actually step into the arena if the proposal goes through,” he said.
He further rejected claims that the CRC’s recommendations could over-centralise power, highlighting proposals aimed at reducing presidential appointment authority and decoupling Parliament from the executive.
“If MPs are no longer appointed as ministers, it strengthens the separation of powers and allows Parliament to be more independent,” he stated.
One suggestion he mentioned that might provoke political opposition is the proposal for open internal party elections, which would enable all registered party members in good standing to participate in primaries.
“I’m curious to see how political parties react to a constitutional obligation that limits their control over internal rules,” he said.
Prof. Osae-Kwapong characterised the CRC’s efforts as a vital measure in tackling enduring deficiencies in the 1992 Constitution and emphasised the need for ongoing public involvement as the proposals enter the consideration stage.
