A governance analyst has warned that the government’s decision to support extending the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four to five years could reduce democratic accountability and make it harder for citizens to remove underperforming leaders.
Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, Executive Director of the African Institute of Strategic Studies, said the proposed constitutional amendment does not address the core governance challenges facing Ghana and risks keeping ineffective administrations in office for longer periods.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, he argued that the additional year would not necessarily improve government performance or accelerate policy implementation.
“We should have the opportunity to decide in a quick space. If the government is bad, we should be able to kick them out. Extending the tenure, for me, is neither here nor there,” he said.
Dr. Asante Otchere rejected the argument that governments require a longer term because much of their first year is spent forming administrations and making appointments.
He contended that political parties seeking power should already have clear governance plans and key appointments in place before winning elections.
“Any party worth its salt should have had in mind those they want to appoint before they even win the election,” he said.
According to him, extending the presidential and parliamentary terms would not solve administrative inefficiencies and could instead increase public frustration if governments perform poorly.
He said shorter electoral cycles provide citizens with a more effective mechanism for holding leaders accountable through the ballot box.
Dr. Asante Otchere also questioned the practical significance of the proposed change, arguing that the difference between a four-year and five-year term is relatively small and that the real priority should be improving the quality of leadership and governance institutions.
His comments come after the government accepted a recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to extend the terms of office of the President and Parliament to five years, a proposal that has sparked growing public debate over its implications for democratic governance and accountability.
