President Mahama’s Government Greenlights Sweeping Constitutional Reforms: 5-Year Terms, Presidential Taxation, and Ministerial Caps Proposed

The Government of Ghana, led by President John Mahama, has unveiled an ambitious constitutional reform package featuring 206 proposed amendments aimed at evolving the nation from an electoral democracy into a 'developmental democracy.' Announced by Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the reforms include significant shifts such as extending the presidential term from four to five years and lowering the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35. These changes, part of a Government White Paper responding to the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) recommendations, are designed to empower the youth and provide sufficient time for national policies to mature. To formalize these shifts, the government plans to prepare two Constitutional Amendment Bills by late 2026, culminating in a nationwide referendum scheduled for 2027 alongside the District Assembly elections.

In a move toward enhanced executive accountability, the government has accepted recommendations for the President to pay taxes on his salary and allowances, though retirement gratuities will remain exempt. To curb the size of government, future administrations will be constitutionally capped at 60 ministers. Further transparency measures include the establishment of an Independent Public Ethics Commission and the removal of the Attorney-General from the Cabinet to separate the office’s prosecutorial functions from political influence. This follows a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) operates under authority delegated by the Attorney-General, who retains the ultimate right to discontinue state prosecutions. Additionally, the government has accepted a proposal to fix presidential election dates for the first week of November, with a strict 30-day timeline for the Supreme Court to resolve any election petitions.

The reform package also addresses legislative and local governance structures, proposing an increase in Parliamentary seats from 276 to 300 and lifting the ban on dual citizens holding public office, including parliamentary roles (though they remain barred from the Presidency and Vice Presidency). At the local level, the government has proposed a uniform nationwide election for District Chief Executives (DCEs), rejecting phased implementation in favor of a process where the President nominates candidates for public vetting and subsequent election. These governance updates coincide with a push for full digitization of public services under the National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS II), aimed at reducing corruption and improving efficiency at agencies like the DVLA and the Passport Office.

While the reforms have been praised by advocates like Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas for strengthening democratic institutions beyond mere voting, they have also met political resistance. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns over the Tribunals Bill, 2026, alleging it could create a parallel justice system susceptible to abuse. Meanwhile, administrative oversight continues as the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, submitted his final reports for the 2025 fiscal year, urging the government to act decisively on recurring financial irregularities. As the country prepares for the 2027 referendum, these proposed amendments represent a pivotal moment in Ghana’s democratic evolution, seeking to balance youth inclusion, executive restraint, and institutional modernization.