Four Years Is Too Short For Ghana’s Development – Former President Kufuor Says

According to a report by GHOne TV today being Wednesday, October 28, 2026, former President John Agyekum Kufuor has argued that Ghana’s current four-year presidential term is too short to allow leaders to implement meaningful development programmes, suggesting that the country should consider extending the duration to five years.

Kufuor’s position centres on the time required for governments to develop policies, execute major projects and deliver sustainable results. According to the former president, an additional year in office could provide administrations with more time to pursue their development agendas and make progress on important national priorities.

The debate over the length of presidential terms has remained an important subject in discussions about democratic governance and effective leadership. In Ghana, presidents are elected for four-year terms and may serve a maximum of two terms under the country’s constitutional arrangements.

Supporters of a longer presidential tenure could argue that five years would provide governments with additional time to implement policies, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and industry.

Major development projects often require extensive planning, funding and implementation, making the time available to an administration an important consideration.

A longer term could also reduce the frequency of national election campaigns, potentially allowing governments to devote more attention to governance and long-term planning.

However, any proposal to extend presidential terms would require careful consideration of its constitutional and democratic implications. Ghana’s current system provides voters with regular opportunities to assess the performance of elected leaders and decide whether to retain them in office.

Critics of a longer tenure could raise concerns about accountability and the importance of maintaining regular electoral opportunities for citizens to express their preferences.

Any change would therefore need to be examined through the appropriate constitutional processes, with broad public discussion and consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

Kufuor’s comments have brought renewed attention to the question of whether Ghana’s existing four-year presidential term provides sufficient time for governments to achieve their development objectives.

Ultimately, the discussion involves balancing the need for continuity in governance with democratic accountability and the public’s right to periodically choose its leaders. A five-year presidential term, as suggested by the former president, would represent a significant constitutional question for Ghana to consider.

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