IEA rejects proposed five-year presidential and parliamentary terms
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has rejected a proposal to extend the tenure of Ghana’s President and Members of Parliament from four to five years, arguing that the existing four-year mandate is sufficient for elected governments to deliver on their programmes.
The IEA made the position known in its assessment of key constitutional review proposals put forward by the Prempeh Committee and the government.
Addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, former Chief Justice and distinguished fellow at IEA Sophia Akuffo said there was not enough evidence to justify extending the tenure of elected officials.
“Four years is sufficient for an elected government to implement its programme, and extending the tenure of elected officials should not be undertaken without much more cogent and compelling evidence that the existing four-year mandate is inadequate,” she said.
The Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh-chaired Constitutional Review Committee had recommended five-year terms for both the President and Members of Parliament, a proposal the government has accepted on the grounds that it would give governments more time to formulate, implement and assess policies.
The IEA, however, disagrees with that position.
Push to reduce presidential powers
Beyond the issue of tenure, the IEA is calling for significant changes to the President’s powers, particularly in the appointment of public officials.
The Institute supports the Prempeh Committee’s proposal for a differentiated system of appointments, saying the Constitution must substantially reduce what it describes as the President’s overwhelming appointing powers.
According to IEA Ghana, appointments to public offices should be based on merit and inclusiveness rather than political considerations.
IEA backs separation of Parliament and Executive
The Institute has also thrown its support behind a proposal to prevent Members of Parliament from simultaneously serving as Ministers, Deputy Ministers or Regional Ministers.
It said such a reform would strengthen Parliament’s ability to scrutinise the Executive independently.
“Parliament cannot be expected to provide robust scrutiny of Government while a significant proportion of its members simultaneously depend on presidential appointment for executive office,” the IEA stated.
The Institute is also calling for Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MPs to be constitutionally barred from serving on the boards of State-Owned Enterprises.
It argues that SOE governance should be driven by competence, professionalism, independence and accountability rather than political affiliation.
IEA rejects presidential role in MMDCE nominations
On local government, the IEA supports the election of all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives but rejects the government’s proposal for candidates to be selected from five persons nominated by the President.
The Institute wants all qualified citizens to have the opportunity to contest MMDCE elections through a non-partisan process.
It argues that local democracy will be strengthened when citizens, rather than the President, determine who can contest to lead their districts.
Calls for stronger judicial independence
The IEA is also advocating reforms to the process for appointing judges, including the Chief Justice.
It wants the Judicial Council reformed into an independent body responsible for judicial appointments, with greater transparency and institutional independence.
The Institute also believes Article 146, which deals with the removal of Superior Court judges, should be revised because the current provisions are too unclear and could be vulnerable to political manipulation.
It is proposing clearer procedures and an intermediate disciplinary system for misconduct that may not warrant removal from office.
IEA wants long-term development plan
On national development planning, the Institute supports an independent National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) with the authority to formulate binding national development plans.
It also wants the tenure of NDPC members to be independent of the President’s tenure and political parties to be required to align their manifestos with the approved national development plan.
The IEA says this would prevent successive governments from repeatedly resetting Ghana’s development agenda.
Concerns over constitutional reform process
The Institute has also raised concerns about the proposed timetable and methodology for the current constitutional amendment process.
Government has proposed separate Bills for entrenched and non-entrenched provisions, with a target of February 2027 for the non-entrenched provisions and a referendum on entrenched provisions alongside the 2027 District Assembly elections.
The IEA believes the process requires more time for public education, consultation, national debate and consensus building.
It said the process should reflect the consultative approach that produced the 1992 Constitution.
The IEA’s overall position is that constitutional reform should focus on reducing excessive executive power, strengthening Parliament and the Judiciary, improving local democracy, promoting merit-based public appointments and creating stronger accountability mechanisms.