By: Evans Osei-Bonsu
The Government has adopted a raft of far-reaching constitutional reform proposals, including extending the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four years to five years, as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s governance framework.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, announced the Government’s position on the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) in Accra on Thursday, July, 30, 2026, saying Cabinet had approved the key proposals and would initiate the necessary constitutional amendment process to give effect to them.
As part of the adopted reforms, presidential elections will no longer be held in December but on a day in the first week of November in an election year. The change is intended to provide more time for the declaration of results, the resolution of election-related disputes and a smoother transition before the swearing-in of a new administration on January 7.
While the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament is proposed to increase to five years, the constitutional limit of two presidential terms will remain unchanged, meaning a President may still serve a maximum of 10 years in office if elected twice.
Government has also endorsed a proposal to reduce the size of the Executive by capping the number of ministers at 60. Under the proposal, ministers may be appointed either from within or outside Parliament, giving future presidents greater flexibility in constituting their governments.
Another significant reform seeks to restructure Parliament by capping its membership at 300. Of that number, 276 Members of Parliament will continue to be elected through the constituency-based system, while 24 seats will be filled through selection and proportional representation, a move aimed at broadening representation in the legislature.
On eligibility for public office, Government has accepted recommendations to remove the constitutional restriction preventing dual citizens from contesting parliamentary elections. Under the proposed reforms, Ghanaians with dual citizenship will be eligible to contest for Parliament without being required to renounce their second nationality. However, the requirement will remain for anyone seeking election as President or Vice-President, who must renounce any other citizenship before assuming either office.
The reforms are based on recommendations made by the Constitutional Review Committee chaired by constitutional lawyer Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, which submitted its report to President John Dramani Mahama following extensive nationwide consultations. Among other things, the Committee concluded that Ghana’s four-year electoral cycle has often limited governments’ ability to fully implement their development programmes before the next election season begins.
Dr. Ayine said the Government would lay the necessary constitutional amendment bills before Parliament to reflect the adopted positions. Where required under the 1992 Constitution, the proposed amendments will also be subjected to a national referendum before they take effect.
Source: Purefmonlinegh.com || Evans Osei-Bonsu || 2026
