The Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South-West constituency in the Ashanti Region and a member of Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government & Rural Development, Hon. Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah, has backed the government’s proposal to extend the tenure of the President and Members of Parliament from four years to five years, but insists that the extension alone will not guarantee improved governance or better performance.

Hon.Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah

According to the lawmaker, the effectiveness of any government depends more on its commitment and competence than on the length of its mandate.

He argued that a responsible and capable government can deliver meaningful results within a four-year term, while an ineffective administration would still fail to perform even if given a longer or unlimited period in office.

Hon.Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah

His comments come after the Government of Ghana accepted recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee to extend the presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years and lower the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years.

The constitutional review process was initiated by President John Dramani Mahama, who established a committee last year to review the 1992 Constitution and propose reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s democratic governance.

Among the recommendations accepted by the government is the proposal to lengthen the tenure of elected executives and legislators.

Supporters of the proposal argue that the current four-year cycle leaves governments with limited time to implement their development agenda, as significant portions of the term are spent on transition processes and preparations for the next general election.

While expressing his full support for the proposed extension, Hon. Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah stressed that Ghanaians should not assume that a five-year mandate will automatically translate into better governance or accelerated national development.

He noted that Ghana has witnessed Nana Addo’s government that delivered significant achievements within their first four years in office, demonstrating that effective leadership is determined by vision, discipline and commitment rather than the duration of a political term.

The proposed constitutional amendment will undergo several legislative processes before being presented to Ghanaians in a national referendum expected in 2027.

For the amendment to be approved, at least 40 per cent of registered voters must participate in the referendum, with a minimum of 75 per cent voting in favour of the proposed changes. Source: myghanamedia.com