Adoa News Adoa News
Credit: The Point of View on Channel One TV
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has opposed a proposal by the Constitutional Review Committee to increase Ghana’s presidential term from four to five years.
Former Chief Justice and IEA Fellow, Sophia Akuffo, said the institute believes the current four-year tenure should be maintained.
She made the position known on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Sophia Akuffo said the IEA does not support the recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, to extend the tenure of the President.
“I think we did mention that the proposal by the Prempeh Committee, which of course is acceptable to the Executive, that the term should be five years rather than four years and the IEA says no, we do not support such an extension,” she said.
According to her, individuals who seek elected office should enter government with a clearly defined agenda and a prepared team capable of immediately implementing their plans.
She questioned why newly elected governments often take considerable time to constitute their administrations, including appointing ministers, regional ministers and governing boards of state institutions.
“One would expect that you arrive and you’re on your feet and you’re running and within hours of assuming office you’re naming your ministers, you’re naming your regional ministers and so on and so forth,” she stated.
Her comments come after government accepted the Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendation to extend the tenure of both the President and Members of Parliament from four to five years.
The government’s position was announced in July 2026 by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine.
While government has backed the proposed five-year term, the IEA maintains that Ghana should retain the existing four-year presidential tenure.