Private legal practitioner Dominic Kojo Brenya Otchere of Okudzeto & Associates has added his voice to the national debate on presidential term limits, stressing that Ghana’s four-year mandate is sufficient for effective governance.
His remarks follow a disclosure by the Secretary to the Constitutional Review Committee that the duration of the presidential term is among the key issues under review.
According to Lawyer Otchere, Ghana operates a hybrid system of governance influenced by both the United States and the United Kingdom, which permits a maximum of two four-year terms for a president. He argued that this framework is adequate to ensure accountability and democratic renewal.
“I’m surprised by the current discourse. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, during his last State of the Nation Address, suggested a five-year term. Personally, I disagree. A well-governed administration can achieve significant impact in four years. Good governance within that period can even compel the electorate to grant a second term,” he stated.
Otchere rejected any calls for an extension, describing them as reflective of a “black mentality” of clinging to power unnecessarily. He warned that leaders who attempt to manipulate term limits, citing the case of President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, undermine democracy and the rule of law.
He further highlighted that Ghana’s Constitution contains entrenched clauses that safeguard citizens’ right to a referendum, ensuring that any attempt to amend presidential term limits must be subject to the will of the people.
“Governance is a continuous process, and every administration should build on the agenda of its predecessor. The Executive is an institution, not a personal project,” Otchere emphasized.
Touching on tribalism in politics, he cautioned that if left unchecked, it could harm Ghana’s international reputation and called for deliberate steps to address the problem.
