Accra: A constituency executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed support for proposals to extend presidential and parliamentary terms to five years, arguing that such a reform would bolster governance, enhance accountability, and improve policy implementation.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. John Nyakpo, a Constituency Executive Member of the NDC in the Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency of the Eastern Region, has welcomed the government's acceptance of the proposal to extend the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four to five years. He believes that Ghana's democracy has matured to a point where revisiting key aspects of the governance structure could lead to better policy execution and faster national development.
Mr. Nyakpo, also an educationist, shared his views in an interview following the government's acceptance of the Constitution Review Committee's recommendation for five-year presidential and parliamentary terms. The announcement was made by Dr. Dominic Ayine, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, at a news conference in Accra.
Mr. Nyakpo pointed out that the current four-year constitutional mandate for the Executive and Legislature is insufficient for governments to fully implement their development programmes. He emphasized that the democratic experience in Ghana demonstrates that many flagship government programmes reach their full impact only during a second term, which underscores the need for a longer initial mandate.
He argued that the proposed extension would allow governments to plan and execute development programmes within a single term, reducing the tendency to leave major projects unfinished and dependent on a re-election. Mr. Nyakpo observed that the existing arrangement often compels governments to focus on securing a second mandate rather than fully delivering on development commitments.
Furthermore, he stated that a five-year tenure would place greater responsibility on political office holders to fulfill their campaign promises within a reasonable timeframe. The proposal would also enhance accountability by requiring governments and Members of Parliament to demonstrate tangible achievements before seeking another electoral mandate.
Mr. Nyakpo noted that Members of Parliament would equally benefit from the proposed reform, as it would provide them with sufficient time to implement constituency development programmes and more effectively address the needs of their constituents. He expressed optimism that, if approved through the appropriate constitutional process, the reform would deepen democratic governance, promote policy continuity, and support Ghana's socio-economic development.