The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) has submitted its comprehensive final report to President John Dramani Mahama, detailing wide-ranging recommendations to amend Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
One of the standout proposals is to move presidential elections from December to November. The committee explains that this adjustment would create additional time for an orderly transition of power between outgoing and incoming administrations.
If adopted, the change would lengthen the transition period from the current one month to two months, a move the CRC believes would ensure a more organized and effective handover process.
The report also calls for significant reforms to the Council of State. According to the Committee, the proposed changes are meant to realign the Council’s composition and operations with the original purpose for which it was established, while strengthening accountability and enhancing its advisory capacity to government.
Additionally, the CRC has recommended extending the presidential term of office from four years to five years. The Committee argues that a longer tenure would promote policy stability and give governments adequate time to implement and complete their development programmes.
Another notable proposal is the reduction of the minimum age requirement for presidential candidates from 40 to 30 years. The CRC considers the current age threshold overly limiting and believes a lower requirement would broaden participation in national leadership.
Presenting the report on Monday, December 22, the Committee’s Chair, Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, emphasized that the recommendations were informed by extensive nationwide consultations and inputs from experts across various fields.