John Agyekum Kufuor backs five-year presidential term

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for an extension of Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years, arguing that the current four-year cycle is insufficient for meaningful national development. Speaking on the matter, he noted that the existing timeframe often prevents governments from fully executing their policy agendas before the focus shifts to the next election cycle.

According to Kufuor, an additional year would provide a crucial window for administrations to concentrate on their initiatives. He observed that in a four-year term, the final year is almost exclusively consumed by election activities and campaigning, leaving only three years for actual governance. This pattern, he suggested, hampers the ability of any government to deliver long-term development projects in a developing nation like Ghana.

The proposal comes amid ongoing discussions regarding a constitutional review process. While Kufuor remains a prominent figure in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the suggestion has reportedly faced some opposition within his own party. Nevertheless, the former president maintains that the change is necessary to ensure that leadership can transition from planning to implementation without the immediate pressure of an impending ballot.

To become law, any change to the presidential term limit would require significant legislative action, including parliamentary approval and subsequent presidential assent. As the nation continues to debate the merits of constitutional reform, Kufuor’s endorsement adds weight to the movement seeking to restructure the electoral calendar to better serve Ghana's administrative stability and growth objectives.