The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, has kicked against calls for the extension of the presidential tenure beyond four years.
He says Ghana’s recent economic difficulties are enough reason not to extend the term.
Speaking at the 2026 Asogli Teza, on Saturday, October 3, Togbe Afede said he could not imagine one more year under the kind of government the country had during the past administration.
His comments come against the backdrop of proposals from the Constitution Review Committee chaired by Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, to extend the presidential term from four to five years.
The Committee presented its final report to President John Dramani Mahama on December 22, 2025, arguing that the current four-year cycle leaves little time for effective governance, with the first six months consumed by transition and appointments and the final year by campaigns.
The Committee also rejected calls for a third term, saying there was no public demand for it.
Government has since accepted the recommendation, with the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, announcing the government’s position at a press conference at the Presidency on Wednesday, July 30, 2026.
According to Dr Ayine, the extension will give governments a more realistic time frame to formulate, implement and assess policies before returning to the electorate.
“The government has accepted a recommendation to extend the term of office of the president from four years to five years, with the term of Parliament extended to correspond with this,” he said.
“Our thinking is practical. Under the current four-year cycle, the early months of every administration are consumed by transition matters, and the final year is largely consumed by elections,” Dr Ayine added.
Togbe Afede, however, disagrees with the extension, citing the hardships of recent years.
“Let me add that we all saw the difficulties of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 in particular, and for me, the consequences that we experienced are the reasons why I am not in favour of extending the presidential term beyond four years,” he stated.
“Because I cannot, or I could not imagine one more year under the kind of government we had at the time,” he added.
The Agbogbomefia said while longer tenure could be justified on administrative grounds, accountability to the people must remain paramount.
