RismadarVoice Reporters
July 31, 2026
The Government of Ghana has commenced the process of extending the country’s presidential tenure from four to five years following recommendations from a constitutional review committee established by President John Dramani Mahama in 2025.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, said the proposed amendment would provide administrations with more time to implement their policies, noting that the early months of every government are often spent on transition while the final year is largely dominated by election activities.
The constitutional review committee also recommended extending the tenure of Parliament from four to five years and lowering the minimum age requirement for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years. The government has accepted the age reduction proposal in principle.
In addition, presidential elections are proposed to be held in the first week of November to provide a longer transition period before the January 7 inauguration of a new administration.
A committee will now draft the necessary constitutional amendment bill, which is expected to be ready within three months before being presented to Parliament for consideration.
If approved by the legislature, the proposed amendments will be subjected to a national referendum in 2027, where they must secure the support of at least 75 per cent of votes cast by a minimum of half of Ghana’s registered voters before taking effect.
