NPP rejects proposal to extend presidential term to five years

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has refused to endorse a proposal by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to extend Ghana's presidential term from four years to five years. The party maintains that the current four-year presidential term should remain in place, citing the importance it holds in ensuring democratic accountability.

At a press conference on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Sulemana Tampuli Alhassan, an MP for Gushegu, stated that the NPP diverges from both the government and the CRC's stance on the proposed term extension. The CRC, led by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, had recommended the extension as part of its broader constitutional reform agenda.

The committee presented its final report to President John Dramani Mahama in December 2025. The government accepted the proposal in July 2026, alongside a corresponding extension of Parliament's tenure from four to five years. The government contended that the four-year electoral cycle provides administrations insufficient time to formulate, implement, and evaluate policies.

However, the NPP argued that lengthening the presidential term would undermine regular democratic accountability. Mr Alhassan emphasized that a four-year mandate enables citizens to periodically evaluate the performance of elected governments and determine whether to extend or revoke their mandate. He stated that challenges related to policy execution, transitions, and government formation should be tackled through enhanced efficiency and timely decision-making. "Extending the term weakens the principle of regular accountability," he concluded.