Key facts
- Ghana's government has agreed to extend the presidential term from four to five years.
- The minimum age for presidential candidates will be lowered from 40 to 35.
- Parliamentary terms will also be extended to align with the new presidential term.
- Presidential elections will be scheduled for the first week of November.
- Constitutional amendment bills are expected by October 2026, with a referendum planned for 2027.
Ghana's government has endorsed a proposal to extend the presidential term from four to five years, a move aimed at providing administrations with more time to implement policies. The decision, announced by Justice Minister Dominic Awine, also includes lowering the minimum age for presidential candidates to 35, down from the current 40.
President John Dramani Mahama initiated a committee last year to review the 1992 constitution, and several of its recommendations have been adopted. The extension of parliamentary terms to match the new presidential term is also part of the accepted reforms. Awine stated that the current system often leads to early months being consumed by transition and the final year by election campaigning.
The government accepted the principle of lowering the presidential age but modified the committee's suggestion of 30 to 35 years. Additionally, presidential elections will now take place in the first week of November to create a clearer separation from the January 7 inauguration.
Further steps include the establishment of a new committee to draft two amendment bills, expected by October 2026. The proposed changes to term limits will require a national referendum in 2027, with a minimum turnout of 40% and at least 75% voting in favour for approval.