Stakeholders at a constitutional lecture in Accra have renewed calls for a review of Ghanaโs presidential term of office, arguing that an extended term could promote policy continuity and strengthen the countryโs development agenda.
The call was made at a forum organized by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) in Accra on October 29.
Governance experts and civil society actors say the limited term restricts long-term development planning and puts undue pressure on governments to deliver quick results within short political cycles.
Across Africa, Ghana remains one of the few countries operating such a short presidential term. Experts argue that this structure slows national progress and weakens policy continuity.
Back in 2008, former President John Agyekum Kufuor proposed extending the presidential term to six or seven years, but the idea was shelved. More than a decade later, the proposal has resurfaced and been submitted to the Constitution Review Commission for consideration.
Calls for Change
Dr. Daniel Appiah, a lecturer and governance expert at the University of Ghana Business School, said Ghanaโs short presidential term has become a major obstacle to sustainable national development.
โAs we speak now, Ghana has got the shortest-term limit for the presidency across the entire African continent,โ he said. โOnly Ghana and Nigeria operate such short terms. A developing country cannot use a four-year development cycle to produce magic. If we are to make progress, we must create an effective civil and public service insulated from short-term electoral cycles. If we donโt review that, we should forget it โ thereโs no way we can achieve anything better.โ
A former Head of the Civil Service, Nana Agyekum Dwamena, also backed the proposal for a longer term, saying it would enhance governance stability and reduce political interference in the public service.
โGhana does four or eight years โ but is there a lesson for us to learn? Former President Kufuor once proposed seven years. Look at other countries; the four- and five-year terms are not helping,โ he argued.
Concerns Over Political Interference
The Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Isaac Bampoe Addo, expressed concern about the Presidentโs power to appoint public sector chief executives, describing it as a source of political interference.
โThe High Court told former President Professor Mills that he could not sack any civil servant,โ he noted. โWith all due respect, the President cannot dismiss civil servants. Article 195 says you act in accordance with advice โ not appoint someone just because they wear a party dress.โ
Professionalism and Accountability
Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, urged civil and public servants to uphold professionalism and offer honest advice to political leaders.
โThere must be fear in ministers to avoid causing trouble,โ he said. โThe people to ensure that are the civil servants. Donโt impose on them things they can easily avoid. The issues we see with ministers are often because those who should advise them have been complacent.โ
Neutral Civil Service Needed
Other speakers, including Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, emphasized the need for a politically neutral and strong civil service to drive Ghanaโs long-term development goals.
โThere was a committee โ I know the TUC had a representative, as well as public and civil service members,โ she said. โThat committee produced a memorandum which has been submitted to the Constitution Review Commission addressing some of these issues.โ
The debate over presidential term limits is expected to intensify as the Constitution Review Commission considers proposals for potential amendments.
