Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim has urged a national discussion on the length of Ghana’s presidential term, arguing that the current four-year mandate is too short for any government to achieve meaningful and lasting change.
According to Ms. Muslim, the brief political cycle contributes to instability, encourages excessive election spending, and hampers long-term development planning.
“Four years is simply insufficient if we truly want to alter the course of our development,” she said in an interview with TV3. “Elections are expensive and almost continuous, leaving limited resources for essential national priorities.”
She explained that Ghana’s governance cycle often sees the first year consumed with appointments, while subsequent years are spent preparing for the next election. This dynamic, she said, leaves little room for effective policy implementation.
Ms. Muslim argued that frequent elections divert resources from development initiatives. While acknowledging concerns that extending term limits could encourage abuse of power, she suggested that constitutional reforms could balance continuity with democratic accountability.
“One option is to allow political parties to retain leaders beyond the current two-term limit if their vision aligns with long-term national development. Ultimately, voters remain the final safeguard,” she said.
She added that such a system could give governments a 12- to 15-year window to implement consistent policies, enhancing development continuity and accountability.
However, she cautioned that longer terms do not guarantee good governance. “Longevity alone doesn’t ensure effective leadership. Citizens must exercise their right to hold leaders accountable and demand reforms when necessary,” Ms. Muslim said.
Concluding her remarks, she called on policymakers to use the ongoing constitutional review process as an opportunity to rethink Ghana’s governance framework for sustained progress.
“Perhaps the Constitutional Review Committee will provide the platform to have this crucial conversation. Failing to address it could be detrimental to the nation,” she added.
