Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has backed a proposal to extend Ghanaâs presidential term from four to five years, despite opposition from his political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Kufuor believes an additional year would give governments more time to develop and implement policies, complete development projects and demonstrate their performance before seeking another mandate from voters.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNewsâ Evans Mensah on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the former President argued that the current four-year arrangement does not provide sufficient time for governments to deliver on their promises.
He explained that the first year of an administration is often spent appointing ministers, familiarising them with their ministries and developing policy proposals, leaving governments with limited time to implement their programmes.
Mr Kufuor also noted that the fourth year is usually dominated by election campaigns, which distract politicians from governance.
"Four years is too short for a young nation that is trying to develop," he said.
He further argued that a five-year term would allow governments to concentrate on development activities for four years, leaving the fifth year for election campaigns.
The former President, who served Ghana between 2001 and 2009, maintained that his support for the proposal was informed by his experience in office.
He, however, stressed that he was not advocating an extension of the number of terms a president could serve. He supports retaining the existing two-term limit.
Mr Kufuor's position differs from that of the NPP, which announced its opposition to the proposed extension on September 17, 2026.
The party has maintained that Ghana should retain the existing four-year presidential term, arguing that regular elections allow citizens to assess the performance of elected governments and decide whether to renew their mandate.
The proposed five-year term forms part of Ghana's ongoing constitutional review process. The Constitution Review Committee has recommended extending both presidential and parliamentary terms.
Although the government accepted the recommendation in July 2026, the proposed changes have yet to complete the constitutional amendment process required to become law.
