Ghana's NPP rejects proposed constitutional overhaul and five-year presidential term

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has formally rejected the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s approach to amending Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. The opposition party argues that the proposed changes, which include amending 147 of the 299 existing articles and adding 59 new provisions, constitute a fundamental overhaul rather than routine amendments.

A primary point of contention is the proposal to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years. The NPP and the Citizens’ Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR) both oppose this extension, arguing that the current four-year cycle is essential for democratic accountability and regular assessment of elected leaders.

The NPP has demanded the establishment of a representative Constituent Assembly to ensure broad national consensus, rather than proceeding through the current parliamentary and referendum process. They have accused the government of substituting its own preferences for approximately 68 percent of the recommendations made by the independent Constitutional Review Committee (CRC).

Civil society organizations, including the CPCR, have also called for a legally binding implementation roadmap to ensure the reform process remains consistent across changes in government. They have expressed concerns regarding the concentration of executive power and the need for greater independence for oversight institutions.