Kufuor endorses five-year presidential term proposal for Mahama

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has endorsed a proposal to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four years to five, arguing that the current arrangement leaves governments with limited time to implement policies and deliver development projects before campaigning for re-election begins.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Kufuor explained that the fourth year of a presidential term is often dominated by election-related activities, with politicians focusing on campaign promises and efforts to secure another mandate rather than governance.

He described election years as particularly demanding, arguing that the intense political activities surrounding elections can distract governments from their development responsibilities.

“Fourth year is an election year. Election year anywhere in the world is a mad year, everybody is going around promising and talking, and then the election comes, and you have to pay something to the voter to put you back, what is the benefit?” he said.

Kufuor, who served as Ghana’s President from 2001 to 2009, said his position was informed by his experience in office. He recalled raising the issue during his final State of the Nation Address, while stressing that the proposal was not intended to extend his own stay in power.

The former President maintained that he supports the existing two-term limit for presidents but believes each term should be extended to five years to provide more time for governments to demonstrate their performance.

“I believe in the two terms, but four years for a developing young country like ours, and I have gone through the experience, so I spoke from practical experience, and it was my last State of the Nation Address that I brought it up. I didn’t say it to lengthen my stay,” he stated.

He added that his position remains unchanged, although he acknowledged that his political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), may hold a different view on the proposal.

The proposal forms part of ongoing discussions on constitutional reform in Ghana. Any change to the presidential term would require the necessary constitutional processes and approvals before it could take effect.

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