Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has stated that Ghana’s current four-year presidential term is sufficient to ensure accountability, arguing that it provides voters with enough time to assess leadership performance and make informed electoral decisions.
Mr Fuseini made the remarks on Saturday, December 27, while speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, where he referenced the political trajectory of former President John Dramani Mahama as evidence that the existing constitutional arrangement works effectively.
“I think four years is enough to hold our elected representatives accountable, and John Dramani Mahama has demonstrated that clearly in this term of his presidency,” he said.
His comments come at a time of renewed national debate following proposals by the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) to extend the presidential term from four to five years. The committee argues that a longer mandate could improve policy continuity, deepen reforms, and enhance overall governance stability.
The CRC, chaired by constitutional law expert Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, recently presented a summary report of its findings to President John Dramani Mahama. One of the key recommendations in the report is the proposal to lengthen the presidential term, with the committee noting that frequent elections under the four-year cycle often reduce the effective governing period.
According to the committee, administrations typically spend significant portions of their term transitioning into office and preparing for re-election, thereby limiting the time available for long-term policy implementation.
However, Mr Fuseini maintains that the current four-year term remains adequate, stressing that electoral accountability is central to democratic governance.
Professor Prempeh has since clarified that the document presented to the President was only a summary of findings, adding that the full and final report, which will include detailed justifications and outcomes of public consultations, is expected to be released in January.
