The African Institute of Strategic Studies (AISS) has expressed strong interest in recent public advocacy for a national dialogue on extending Ghana’s current four-year presidential tenure. While acknowledging that arguments for an extension are gaining public attention, the think tank insists that such proposals require rigorous scrutiny and formal submission to the Constitutional Review Committee to have any practical effect.
Arguments for Extension Under Review
Supporters of a longer presidential term often cite several reasons, including:
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the insufficiency of four years for sustainable development,
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risks of political instability resulting from frequent elections,
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the costliness of periodic national polls, and
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disruptions to long-term national planning.
AISS, however, believes these claims demand objective examination rather than emotional appeal.
Effectiveness Over Duration
According to the institute, the fundamental issue is not the length of a government’s mandate but its effectiveness in executing a national development agenda. Ghana’s electoral system already provides a mechanism for accountability: citizens assess performance after four years and choose to retain or replace an administration.
To the electorate, AISS argues, extending the tenure of an underperforming government would undermine national welfare and aspirations. Conversely, a second four-year term for a competent government serves as a legitimate endorsement and enables continuity of policies and projects.
The institute maintains that claims regarding insufficient time for long-term planning are unfounded, noting that constitutional provisions already require successive governments to continue ongoing national projects. A well-structured, binding long-term development plan — particularly one prepared by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) — should guide all governments regardless of political persuasion.
Challenges with Current Development Planning
AISS highlights a longstanding problem: governments often prioritize party manifesto promises over national development plans prepared by the NDPC. This practice, they argue, has resulted in massive financial losses, inconsistent policy direction, and widespread abandonment of national projects.
The institute calls for constitutional amendments to restructure the NDPC into an independent, inclusive, technocratic body with legal authority to design binding national development plans. The current structure, AISS notes, lacks broad participation and therefore fails to inspire national ownership.
Debunking Stability Claims
Proponents of longer presidential terms often argue that short political cycles fuel instability. AISS firmly disagrees, pointing to several African countries where extended tenures have not yielded political or economic stability. Examples include Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Eritrea — all led for decades by leaders whose lengthy rule did not translate into meaningful national progress.
The institute further recalls Ghana’s own history, particularly the 1964 referendum that made President Kwame Nkrumah “Life President,” effectively eliminating electoral accountability.
On the Cost of Elections
AISS rejects the notion that the expense of regular elections constitutes wasteful spending. Elections, it argues, are foundational to democracy, providing citizens with the power to assess leaders, renew mandates, and prevent authoritarianism. The societal benefits — political stability, prevention of coups, public participation, and governmental legitimacy — far outweigh the financial costs.
However, the institute acknowledges concerns about high campaign expenditures, warning that political parties’ reliance on questionable funding sources increases corruption risks. It proposes legislative solutions, including shorter campaign seasons and stricter limits on political advertising.
Term Limits Already Allow an Eight-Year Tenure
AISS emphasizes that under Articles 66(1) and 66(2) of the 1992 Constitution, a president who performs well can serve for eight years — a period the institute views as adequate and already embedded in Ghana’s constitutional structure.
The think tank also references the work of the 2011 Constitutional Review Commission, which considered proposals for longer terms but ultimately recommended maintaining the four-year cycle. The Commission concluded that the current arrangement “allows the electorate not to be unduly saddled with an ineffective President, while an effective President finds approbation in having his mandate renewed.”
This, AISS says, aligns with international best practice and Ghana’s own democratic experience.
Conclusion: Term Extension Debate Is Settled
Given historical evidence, constitutional safeguards, and the findings of previous constitutional reviews, AISS believes that the debate over extending the four-year presidential term is settled. Any renewed advocacy for an extension, the institute asserts, is an exercise in futility.
Dr. Jonathan Asante Othere (PhD)
Executive Director, African Institute of Strategic Studies (AISS)