Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced that the government has endorsed a major recommendation from the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to extend the tenure of both the President and Parliament from four to five years. Presenting the government’s White Paper on the CRC’s proposals, Dr. Ayine explained that the change is designed to give administrations sufficient time to implement and assess their policies before facing the electorate.
“The government has accepted the recommendation to extend the presidential term from four to five years, with Parliament’s term adjusted accordingly,” he stated. He noted that the current four‑year cycle often leaves governments constrained, as the early months are consumed by transition processes while the final year is dominated by election activities.
“Our reasoning is practical,” Dr. Ayine emphasised. “A five‑year term provides a more realistic timeframe for governance and policy delivery.” “A five-year term provides a more realistic time frame for the formulation, implementation and assessment of government policy.”
The Attorney General also announced that the government had accepted, in principle, the committee’s recommendation to lower the minimum age for presidential candidates, but with a modification. While the Constitutional Review Committee proposed reducing the eligibility age from the current 40 years to 30 years, the government has opted for a minimum age of 35 years.
“Still under the presidency, the committee recommended that the minimum age of eligibility for election as president be reduced from 40 years, currently in the Constitution, to 30 years. The government has accepted this recommendation in principle, subject to one modification,” he said.
“The minimum age will be 35 years, not 30 years. And of course, the details of this will be fashioned out by the Constitutional Review.”
Source: William Narh
