Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has voiced strong opposition to the proposed five-year term for Ghanaian presidents, warning that it could encourage corruption.
Speaking on JoyPrime TV on Wednesday, he argued that only those benefiting from a government in power would support such a move, while the majority of Ghanaians would likely reject it.
“Not at all. We have voted twice on this matter… fast forward, 2011/2012, the Fiadzo Commission, the one Atta Mills put up, that one we had the opportunity to vote via SMS and the majority of Ghanaians said they don’t want the five-year term,” he said.
“Certainly, if you are benefiting, you will say five years,” he added.
Mr Kpebu also noted that a longer term is risky, citing former President Nana Addo’s eight-year tenure and speculating that a ten-year term would have been worse.
“Our systems are weak, so generally if the president is not very honest, he will help himself; he and his people will loot. So that is why people like the four-year term,” he said.
“Can you imagine Akufo-Addo in government for two extra years? Look at the eight years, how we suffered. In two more years, a lot of us will have died. If he had won five-five, ten years, oh no, that is a generation,” he argued.
The Constitutional Review Committee has proposed an extension of the presidential term from four years to five, as part of recommendations aimed at strengthening governance and policy continuity.
Read also: Constitutional Review Committee proposes 5-year presidential term
The Chairman of the committee, Prof Prempeh, disclosed the proposal on Monday, December 22, when the committee formally presented its work to the President at the Jubilee House.
According to Prof Prempeh, the proposal is intended to create a more stable governance framework by allowing presidents adequate time to design, implement and consolidate long-term national policies without the constant pressure of frequent election cycles.
Read also: Proposed 5-Year Presidential Term Could Break Ghana Tradition of 8-Year Mandate
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