Kufuor Backs Five-Year Presidential Term Despite NPP Opposition

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has thrown his support behind a proposal to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four years to five, arguing that the current electoral cycle does not give governments enough time to implement their development programmes.

His position puts him at odds with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), of which he is a member. The party has rejected the proposed extension and insists that Ghana should retain its existing four-year presidential term.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Mr Kufuor said his position was informed by his experience as President between January 2001 and January 2009.

He argued that an additional year would give governments more time to develop policies, implement programmes and demonstrate results before returning to the electorate for another mandate.

The former President maintained that he supports the existing two-term limit but believes four years is insufficient for a developing country such as Ghana.

Kufuor Explains Why Four Years Is Not Enough

Mr Kufuor said the effective governing period of a new administration is often reduced by the time required to appoint ministers, familiarise them with their ministries and develop policies.

He explained that newly appointed ministers need time to understand the operations of their ministries and establish working relationships with the civil service, which holds important institutional knowledge.

According to him, the first year of an administration can largely be spent on appointments, orientation and policy development.

He also noted that policy proposals must go through Cabinet and Parliament before implementation can begin, further reducing the time available for governments to deliver their programmes.

Mr Kufuor observed that by the third year, citizens increasingly begin assessing the government’s performance, while the fourth year is often dominated by election preparations and campaigning.

“Fourth year is there and it’s election year. Election year anywhere on earth is mad year,” he said.

He believes extending the presidential term to five years would give governments more time to focus on development before entering the next election period.

Kufuor Insists Two-Term Limit Should Remain

The former President stressed that his proposal was not intended to extend the period any individual president could remain in office.

Rather, he supports retaining the constitutional two-term limit while increasing the duration of each term from four to five years.

He also cautioned against allowing political leaders to remain in power for excessive periods, warning that prolonged control of political authority could encourage abuses.

“Power tends to be like a nectar sweet,” he said, highlighting the importance of maintaining constitutional limits on presidential tenure.

NPP Rejects Five-Year Presidential Term

The NPP has taken a different position, insisting that Ghana should retain the existing four-year presidential mandate.

In its position announced on September 17, 2026, the party argued that regular elections provide citizens with opportunities to assess the performance of elected governments and decide whether to renew or withdraw their mandate.

The party believes that challenges associated with policy implementation, government transitions and the formation of new administrations should be addressed through greater efficiency rather than extending presidential terms.

The NPP has also supported moving presidential elections from December to November, arguing that the adjustment would allow incoming administrations more time to prepare for an orderly transition without extending the presidential mandate.

What Happens Next?

The proposal forms part of Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process.

The Constitution Review Committee recommended extending the presidential term from four to five years, alongside a corresponding extension of Parliament’s tenure. The government accepted the recommendation in July 2026.

However, the proposal has not yet become law. It must go through the required constitutional amendment process and receive the necessary approvals before any change can take effect.

The contrasting positions of Mr Kufuor and the NPP add another dimension to the national debate over governance, democratic accountability and the length of presidential mandates in Ghana.

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