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“Four years is too short,” Kufuor says of presidents’ term in office

John Agyekum Kufuor revives the debate about extending Ghanaian leaders’ tenure from four years to five

The former president John Agyekum Kufuor has reignited the debate over whether heads of state should serve a five-year term in office.

“For a developing country like our nation, with so many … drawbacks to tackle, four years’ tenure, I thought, was too short. [I wanted] to show the people it wasn’t for me really to try to tinker or tamper with the constitution,” he said.

“I will say again, taking everything into account because of bad experiences many of us have [had], I will say one year [is what you need to start]. If the people have picked leadership that has got the makings, it should be enough for such leadership … to form a cabinet, to get to know the civil service and other agencies.”

Challenges

Kufuor was speaking yesterday (6 September) with Kwaku Sakyi-Addo on Sunday Night, Asaase Radio’s flagship interview programme. They discussed a range of challenges in governance and crises the former president experienced during his time in office.

Kufuor premises his argument on the limited time most presidents have to constitute a cabinet and the need to acquaint themselves with critical agencies of state before they kick-start their real work. For most leaders, this consumes the first year in office.

Such delays affect the length of time a president has to execute policies that will drive development, Kufuor said. The problem is particularly acute because most politicians focus on process, with the goal of winning re-election in their final year in office.

How to get re-elected

“You hardly get ministers sitting in the ministries working seriously,” Kufuor said. “Their mind is on the electorate: how to get the votes to be re-elected.”

He believes if presidents were allowed to serve two terms it would give them ample time to execute their policies and better the lives of the people.

Following constitutional reforms, most of Ghana’s neighbours, including Côte d’Ivoire, have set two terms of five years for their presidents.

Fred Dzakpata

Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
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