Beyond the Five-Year Debate: Ghana Must Fix Governance First
Kyzz FM Editorial: Ghana Needs Better Governance, Not Longer Presidential Terms
As Ghanaians continue to contribute to the ongoing constitutional review process, one proposal has generated significant public debate—the suggestion to extend the presidential term of office from four years to five years.
Supporters of the proposal argue that four years are insufficient for governments to effectively implement their development agenda because a substantial portion of the first year is spent settling into office, while the final year is dominated by electioneering and political campaigns.
While this concern is understandable, Kyzz FM believes that extending the presidential term is not the appropriate solution. The real issues lie within Ghana's transition arrangements and political processes, both of which require urgent reform.
A newly elected administration often spends several months appointing ministers, chief executives, governing boards and other public officials before government machinery reaches full operational capacity. By the time these processes are completed, political parties are already positioning themselves for the next election cycle, shifting attention away from governance.
Rather than increasing the length of a presidential term, Ghana should streamline its transition process to ensure that incoming governments are able to assume full responsibility within the shortest possible time. Institutions should be structured to guarantee continuity, reduce bureaucratic delays and enable governments to begin implementing their policies almost immediately after assuming office.
Equally important is the need to reform the country's political culture. Continuous political campaigning has become a major distraction to governance. Extending the term to five years without addressing this reality could simply result in a longer period of political manoeuvring rather than improved development outcomes.
The objective of constitutional reform should be to strengthen democratic governance, improve accountability and make public institutions more efficient. These goals cannot be achieved merely by adding another year to a presidential mandate.
Many countries have demonstrated that effective leadership depends less on the duration of a government's tenure and more on the efficiency of its institutions, the quality of leadership and the continuity of public administration.
Kyzz FM therefore believes that the Constitutional Review Committee should prioritise reforms that improve transition timelines, strengthen institutions, enhance policy continuity and reduce the influence of perpetual electioneering on governance.
Ultimately, the question before the nation should not simply be whether a President should serve for four years or five years. The more important question is how Ghana can ensure that every year of a presidential mandate is productive and focused on national development.
Our democracy will be strengthened not by longer terms of office, but by faster transitions, stronger institutions and a political environment that places governance above politics.