Accra: President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has announced the possibility of extending the tenure of political officeholders in the country to five years. This potential change comes as part of an ongoing review aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the current four-year term.
According to Ghana Web, the president shared this information during a stakeholder engagement event in the Central Region, which was part of his Resetting Ghana tour. Mahama emphasized that the review is still underway, and no specific timelines have been set for its completion. He highlighted the need for longer terms, noting that four years is insufficient for any government to achieve substantial impact.
During his speech, Mahama outlined the proposed changes, stating, "We are going to change the term of office for political office holders. Members of Parliament will go for five years, the President for five years, assemblymen for five years, and district chief executives for five years." He further explained that, unlike some other African nations with four-year terms, Ghana and Nigeria find it challenging to implement significant changes within such a short period. The first year is often spent establishing the government, leaving little time for impactful governance before the next election cycle begins.
The proposal, if implemented, would align Ghana's political terms more closely with those of other African countries, providing leaders with a longer period to execute their agendas. While the review continues, the president's remarks have sparked discussions on the potential benefits and challenges of extending political tenures in Ghana.