Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has openly backed a proposal to extend Ghana’s presidential term from four years to five, placing himself at odds with the official position of his own New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on October 28, 2026, Kufuor argued that Ghana’s current four-year presidential cycle does not give governments enough time to fully implement their development agenda before election campaigning begins again.

The former president, who governed Ghana from 2001 to 2009, said his position was based on his own experience in office.

“Four years is too short for a young nation that is trying to develop,” Kufuor said, explaining that a five-year arrangement could allow an administration to concentrate on governing for four years before dedicating the final year to election activities.

Kufuor Stands Firm Despite NPP Opposition

Kufuor acknowledged that his position differs from that of the NPP but maintained that the party is entitled to its own view.

The NPP officially rejected the five-year proposal in September, arguing that retaining the four-year term protects democratic accountability by allowing voters to assess governments more regularly.

According to the party, problems involving transitions and policy implementation should be addressed through greater efficiency rather than extending the presidential mandate.

Government Also Supports Five-Year Term

The proposed change originated from recommendations by the Constitutional Review Committee chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh.

President John Dramani Mahama’s government has accepted the recommendation for five-year presidential and parliamentary terms, arguing that the existing four-year cycle leaves administrations with limited time to formulate, implement and evaluate major policies.

Kufuor emphasized that he still supports the constitutional two-term limit, meaning his proposal would retain a maximum of two terms but increase each term to five years.

The proposal is not yet law and would have to pass through Ghana’s constitutional amendment process before taking effect.

With a respected former NPP president openly disagreeing with his party, the debate over whether Ghana needs four- or five-year presidential terms is likely to remain a major issue in the ongoing constitutional review.