Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for Ghana to extend its presidential term from four years to five, arguing that the current arrangement does not give governments enough time to implement their development plans.

Mr Kufuor believes an additional year would allow administrations to focus more on governance, policy implementation and national development instead of preparing for another election so soon.

He made the remarks in an interview with JoyNews journalist Evans Mensah, published on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

According to the former President, Ghana needs a longer presidential term to support its development ambitions.

Kufuor Explains His Proposal

Mr Kufuor argued that the four-year presidential term leaves governments with limited time to implement major policies and complete development projects.

He noted that the final year of a presidential term is often dominated by election campaigns and political activities, which can affect the attention given to governance.

He believes extending the term to five years would provide administrations with more time to implement their programmes and deliver on their promises to the electorate.

Former President Supports Two-Term Limit

Drawing on his experience as President of Ghana from 2001 to 2009, Mr Kufuor maintained that the country should retain the existing two-term limit while extending each term to five years.

Under his proposal, a president elected for two terms would be able to serve a maximum of 10 years.

He has argued that the proposal is intended to give governments more time to pursue national development, rather than provide political leaders with an opportunity to remain in office indefinitely.

Constitutional Reform Debate

The proposal comes amid discussions about possible constitutional reforms in Ghana, including recommendations to extend the presidential and parliamentary terms from four years to five.

Supporters of a longer term argue that it could provide governments with more time to implement policies and complete major projects. Others have raised concerns about maintaining democratic accountability and ensuring that elected leaders remain answerable to the electorate.

Mr Kufuor has acknowledged that his position may not be shared by everyone in his own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), but believes the proposal deserves serious consideration.

Five-Year Term Would Require Constitutional Change

Ghana’s 1992 Constitution currently provides for a four-year presidential term, with a president eligible to serve a maximum of two terms.

Changing the duration of the presidential term would require the relevant constitutional amendment procedures to be followed.

Mr Kufuor’s proposal therefore remains part of the broader discussion about Ghana’s governance and constitutional arrangements.

The debate centres on whether a five-year term would give governments sufficient time to deliver development programmes while preserving democratic accountability and the electorate’s ability to assess their performance.

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Source:Ghana News Page