The Government has accepted the Constitutional Review Committee’s proposal to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years.
Additionally, it was decided that Parliament should have 300 members instead of the present 276.
Reducing the age requirement for presidential eligibility from 40 to 35 is another aspect of the idea that the administration has approved.
Once more, the administration has supported the idea of electing all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
Dr. Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General, stated that the recommendation to abolish the death penalty in accordance with human rights has also been endorsed during a press briefing in Accra on Thursday to unveil specifics of the government’s position paper on the Constitutional Review Committee report.
Additionally, the idea of allowing dual citizens to serve in parliament and hold other important public positions has received support.
All of this will now need to be approved by a referendum before it can be reviewed in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
He stated that in order to cut expenses, the government intended to hold that referendum concurrently with the 2027 District Assembly elections and anticipated that both amendment measures would be prepared by October 2026.
Dr. Ayine explained during the press conference that the Constitutional Review Committee was not created as a commission of inquiry under Chapter 23 of the 1992 Constitution, hence the document was not a White Paper in the literal sense of the constitution.
According to him, the government’s answer to the committee’s recommendations might be divided into three categories: full approval, acceptance in principle with revisions, and rejection, with explanations given for each choice.
Regarding the presidency, Dr. Ayine stated that the cabinet has agreed to a five-year term for the president and a five-year extension for the Parliament.
He claimed that following the transition phase and election-related events, the current four-year cycle left little time for governing.
The suggestions call for holding presidential elections during the first week of November.
Additionally, election petitions must be submitted within 14 days of the results being announced and decided by the Supreme Court within 30 days.
A proposal to eliminate the President’s general tax exemption was also approved by the administration. Therefore, while presidential pensions would continue to be tax-exempt, the President will be responsible for paying taxes on salary, allowances, and any applicable indirect taxes.
Instead of the committee’s suggested 57 ministers of state, the Executive will have a ceiling of 60.
Additionally, the number of MPs in Parliament will be increased to 300. The extra 24 seats will be filled by proportional representation and set aside for women, people with disabilities, and young people.
A proposal to lift limits on dual citizens’ ability to run for legislative office or hold high-level positions like parliamentarians was also approved by the government.
Ministers, Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament, and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission only because they are foreign nationals.
The Chief Justice of the Judiciary will hold office for a single, non-renewable term of ten years, or until they reach the required retirement age of seventy, whichever comes first.
The Chief Justice and 18 more justices will make up the Supreme Court’s maximum membership of 19, rather than the committee’s suggested 15.
Additionally, political parties will have to grant equal voting rights to all members in good standing when choosing candidates for the presidency and legislature.
In a case initiated by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, and Dr. Christine Amoako-Nuamah, the Supreme Court rendered a decision on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, according to Dr. Ayine.
Instead of using the committee’s graduated approach to local governance, the government suggested directly electing all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.
The plan calls for the President to propose five candidates for each post, two of whom must be women.
After that, three candidates, at least one of whom is a woman, will be shortlisted to run in the election.
The administration also agreed to the creation of an independent Public Emoluments Commission to determine the salary and benefits of Article 71 office holders, such as the President, Members of Parliament, and leaders of significant state institutions.
The current committee appointed by the President for that aim will so be disbanded.
The administration also agreed to abolish the death penalty, with current capital offences punishable by life in prison instead.
It also approved the idea to adopt a Human Rights Act to expand the rights outlined in Chapter Five of the Constitution without having a vote whenever new rights are added.
A constitutional right of residence for individuals of African descent living abroad was also acknowledged by the administration, along with a heritage-based route to citizenship that would be subject to requirements set by Parliament.
The restructuring of the Office of the Attorney-General was also announced by Dr. Ayine.
The Attorney-General will no longer be a member of the Cabinet or a Minister of State under the proposal.
The Attorney-General will continue to be in charge of criminal prosecutions and providing legal counsel to the state, with tenure security akin to that of a Supreme Court justice, while a distinct Ministry of Justice will supervise the justice sector.
A Constitutional Review Implementation Committee will shortly be established by President John Dramani Mahama to draft two constitutional reform legislation, according to Dr. Ayine.
He explained that the second measure, which dealt with entrenched provisions, would be put to a national referendum, while the first law, which covered non-entrenched provisions, would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
He stated that in order to cut expenses, the government planned to hold the referendum concurrently with the 2027 District Assembly elections and anticipated that both amendment measures would be completed by October 2026.
Dr. Ayine advised Ghanaians to read the government’s 89-page position paper and the report of the Constitution Review Committee.
Source: newsthemegh.com