The Government of Ghana has accepted a proposal to shift the date for presidential elections from December to the first week of November in every election year.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, confirmed that Cabinet adopted the recommendation submitted by the Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh.
The committee originally presented its final report to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House on Monday, 22 December 2025, recommending the electoral timeline shift to ensure a smoother, longer political transition.
Under the proposal, Article 63(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution will undergo an amendment to stipulate that the presidential election “shall be held on such date in the first week of the month of November in an election year as the Electoral Commission shall, by constitutional instrument, specify.”
The structural change expands the window between the declaration of election results and the official inauguration of a new President from one month to two months.
The extra timeframe aims to allow adequate space for resolving electoral disputes, conducting administrative handovers, and enabling an incoming administration to form its team effectively before taking office.
According to the committee, this extended transition period will reduce last-minute political tension and strengthen Ghana’s democratic governance.
Announcing the official executive approval on Thursday, 30 July 2026, Dr Ayine confirmed that the government has accepted the core reform package in full.
In addition to shifting the election month, the Attorney-General stated that the government accepted the committee’s recommendation to extend the presidential term of office from four years to five years.
Furthermore, the minimum age eligibility requirement for contesting the presidency has been reduced from 40 to 35 years.
The Attorney-General clarified that these constitutional amendments will not apply to the sitting President.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
