NPP rejects proposal to extend presidential term to five years

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has voiced its opposition to extending Ghana's presidential term from four years to five years. During a press conference on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Sulemana Tampuli Alhassan, announced the party's stance. Tampuli stated that the NPP disagreed with both the government and the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) regarding the proposed extension.

The CRC had recommended the five-year term as part of its broader constitutional reform proposals, which were included in its final report submitted to President John Dramani Mahama in December 2025. The government accepted the recommendation in July 2026, alongside a corresponding extension of Parliament's tenure from four to five years.

The government argued that a four-year electoral cycle does not provide sufficient time for administrations to design, implement, and evaluate policies. However, Tampuli maintained that a longer presidential term would undermine democratic accountability. He argued that a four-year mandate enables citizens to regularly evaluate the performance of elected governments and decide whether to continue or end their support.

Tampuli emphasized that issues such as policy implementation, transitions, and government formation should be addressed through enhanced efficiency and quicker decision-making processes, rather than by extending the presidential term.