Ghana government accepts major constitutional reforms

The Government of Ghana has accepted several major recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) aimed at reforming the nation's Fourth Republic Constitution. Key proposals include extending the presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years to allow more time for policy implementation and evaluation.

Other significant reforms include the election of District Chief Executives (DCEs), the abolition of the death penalty, and the creation of a citizen-initiative mechanism for constitutional amendments. The government also proposed a review of the size and composition of the state, suggesting a maximum of 60 ministers and a Parliament of up to 300 members, which would include 24 seats allocated through proportional representation for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Regarding eligibility, the government proposed reducing the minimum age for presidential candidates to 35 years and allowing dual citizens by birth to contest parliamentary elections without renouncing their other citizenship. However, the government rejected the taxation of presidential pensions and maintained the existing presidential immunity framework.