Ghana Extends Presidential Term to Five Years, Lowers Age

The Ghanaian government has finalized plans to extend the presidential term from four years to five years and reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates to 35 years. This decision follows the recommendations of a committee established by President John Dramani Mahama, which submitted its report on Thursday.

Justice Minister Dominic Ayine announced that the government accepted the recommendation to extend the presidential term, aiming to enhance democratic accountability by allowing more time for effective governance. The committee also suggested increasing the tenure of lawmakers to align with the president's term, preventing electoral gaps.

Although the committee recommended a minimum age of 30 for presidential candidates, the government opted for 35. A national referendum is scheduled for 2027 to approve these constitutional changes, which will include strict voter turnout and approval thresholds.