IEA Rejects Five-Year Term Proposal Amid Rising Demands for Constitutional Reform and Accountability

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and various civil society organizations have intensified their opposition to proposed constitutional amendments that would extend Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years. Justice Sophia Akuffo, an IEA Fellow and former Chief Justice, argued that the current four-year mandate provides sufficient time for any prepared government to implement its programs. The IEA has criticized delays in ministerial appointments and weak institutional capacity as the real hurdles to governance, rather than the length of the electoral cycle. This sentiment was echoed by former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini, who dismissed the proposed extension as lacking a rational basis, noting that the 1992 Constitution already provides for continuity through the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Beyond term limits, the IEA is advocating for a more robust framework to tackle corruption and unexplained wealth. The Institute supports recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee to strengthen Article 286, which would introduce lifestyle audits and a reverse burden of proof for public officials. This push for accountability is mirrored by the Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR), led by Professor Akosua Keseboa Darkwah. The CPCR has called for an end to the allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund to Members of Parliament, arguing that the practice blurs the essential separation between legislative and executive roles. The platform also proposed establishing an independent Political Parties Regulatory Commission to oversee campaign financing and internal party democracy.

In the realm of internal party dynamics, Sammy Crabbe, a National Chairman aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed concern over a decline in intellectual engagement within his party. Crabbe warned that growing intolerance and a narrowing space for debate are driving talented members toward the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Meanwhile, as President John Mahama’s administration continues its first year in office, government supporters like Gordon Asubonteng of the Feed Ghana Programme have praised the current leadership for what they describe as a corruption-free tenure and improved profitability in state-owned enterprises. Despite such praise, independent analysts like Professor Smart Sarpong maintain that rigorous polling and public scrutiny remain vital for tracking political trends and holding leadership accountable.

These converging debates reflect a critical period in Ghanaian politics, as the nation weighs the merits of structural constitutional changes against the need for stronger institutional enforcement. While the government has shown interest in extending mandates to allow for long-term policy assessment, the prevailing consensus among civil society groups and legal experts favors maintaining shorter electoral cycles to ensure higher levels of democratic accountability. The coming months are expected to see further engagement between the executive branch and stakeholders as the constitutional review process moves toward potential legislative action.