Five-year Presidential Term Will Not Solve Governance Challenges – Lawyer
Private legal practitioner Nicholas Osei Darkwa has questioned whether extending Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years would address the challenges governments face in implementing their policies and programmes.
Speaking in an interview with Kofi Boakye on Nkwantannanso on Opemsuo Radio, Mr Osei Darkwa said if the main reason for extending the term is to give governments enough time to properly execute their mandates, then six years, rather than five, could have been considered.
He explained that under the current four-year term, the first year is often spent dealing with transitional matters, while the final year is largely taken up by election-related activities.
He, however, argued that adding only one year may not provide the lasting solution being sought.
“If the call is for five years because four years is not enough to properly execute the mandate, then they have not given us a proper solution. They should rather say we do it six years so that we know they will properly execute their mandate,” he argued.
He noted that politicians themselves often contribute to the challenges associated with transitions and election periods and questioned why these activities should necessarily be used as a basis for extending the presidential term.
Mr Osei Darkwa acknowledged that a longer presidential term could give governments more time to implement their policies, but cautioned that the potential disadvantages must also be considered.
He asked what would happen if a government performed poorly or pursued policies that negatively affected citizens, arguing that extending the term could also mean citizens would have to endure poor governance for a longer period before they could change their government.
“What happens if a government is performing poorly or causing problems? Should citizens still have to wait five years before having the opportunity to change the government?” he questioned.
He therefore called for the debate to go beyond the length of the presidential term and focus on strengthening checks and balances and ensuring continuity in governance.
According to him, important government policies and programmes should not be abandoned simply because there has been a change in administration.
He stressed that any decision to extend the presidential term must carefully balance the need to give governments enough time to deliver their mandates with the need to protect citizens from ineffective governance.
Mr Osei Darkwa maintained that the issue should therefore not be treated lightly, as changing the length of the presidential term would have significant implications for Ghana’s democratic system and how citizens hold governments accountable.
BACKGROUND
The Government of Ghana has formally accepted a proposal from the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to extend the presidential term from four years to five years.
Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine announced the decision on Thursday, July 30, 2026, while presenting the government’s position paper on the CRC’s recommendations.
