Presidential Age Limit: 30 Years would have been appropriate – Lawyer

Private legal practitioner Nicholas Osei Darkwa has backed the Constitutional Review Committee’s proposal to reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 30 years, saying the government’s decision to settle on 35 years places too much emphasis on age.

Speaking in an interview with Kofi Boakye on Nkwantannanso on Opemsuo Radio, Mr Osei Darkwa said although the government’s 35-year threshold is not far from the 30 years proposed by the Committee, he believes 30 years would have been more appropriate.

He said age does not necessarily determine maturity, arguing that the focus should instead be on a candidate’s experience, competence and qualifications.

“I believe age does not necessarily correspond with maturity. For me, the focus should rather be on experience, competence and the proper qualifications. Age alone is not necessarily the most important factor,” he said.

Mr Osei Darkwa acknowledged that the presidency is a serious responsibility and explained that the current 40-year minimum age was based partly on the expectation that a person would have gained some life experience and faced certain challenges by that stage.

However, he argued that allowing a person who is 30 years old to contest the presidency does not mean that the person would automatically become president.

He said such a candidate would still have to contest an election, present their ideas to Ghanaians and convince voters that they are capable of leading the country.

“I support the Constitutional Review Committee’s proposal to reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates to 30 because reaching that age does not automatically make someone president. The person would still have to contest an election and convince the electorate that they are capable of leading the country,” he stated.

He added that the younger generation continues to demonstrate ideas and leadership qualities that show that wisdom and good leadership are not necessarily determined by age.

Mr Osei Darkwa also called for a scientific comparison of countries with different presidential age requirements to determine whether there is any direct link between the age of a president and a country’s level of development.

“You will realise that there is no necessary direct correlation between the age of a president and the level of development of a country,” he argued.

He further stressed the need for stronger checks and balances to ensure that whoever becomes president is properly held accountable, regardless of their age.

According to him, strengthening the country’s institutions would be more important than relying heavily on age restrictions to determine who can occupy the presidency.

On the government’s decision to accept 35 years instead of the Committee’s proposed 30 years, Mr Osei Darkwa said the two positions were not significantly different, with government simply choosing to set the threshold slightly higher.

He maintained that the ultimate decision on who should lead the country rests with the electorate.

“At the end of the day, however, we, the citizens, have the final say,” he said.

Background

The Government of Ghana has accepted a proposal to reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, announced the decision on Thursday, July 30, 2026, while presenting the government’s White Paper on the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations