Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called for a constitutional amendment to allow political parties to remove non-performing presidents before the end of their four-year terms. He argued that Ghana should focus on creating a system that allows parties to replace ineffective presidents rather than extending the presidential term from four to five years. This proposal comes amid renewed debate over a proposal by the Constitutional Review Committee to extend the presidential term.
Mr Kpebu's comments were made on Accra-based TV3's Ghana Tonight programme on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. He proposed that the party that wins a presidential election should be allowed to recall its president and nominate a replacement if the leader fails to meet expectations. This, he believes, would enable political parties to respond more quickly to poor leadership without requiring the country to hold another general election.
According to Mr Kpebu, such an arrangement would also impose additional financial costs on the country. He cited the United Kingdom's parliamentary system, where governing parties can replace their leaders without holding a general election, as an example Ghana could learn from. The UK's system allows for a more efficient response to poor leadership, which Ghana could adopt.
Mr Kpebu noted that Ghana operates a hybrid constitutional system that combines elements of presidential and parliamentary governance. This makes it possible to consider adopting aspects of the parliamentary system, while retaining the presidential system. He maintained that amending the Constitution to make it easier for governing parties to replace presidents who are not performing well is a better option.
The proposal by Mr Kpebu is in contrast to the views of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who has publicly supported the proposal by the Constitutional Review Committee to extend the presidential term. Mr Kpebu argued that extending the presidential term would not necessarily improve governance. Instead, the focus should be on creating a system that allows for the replacement of ineffective presidents.
Mr Kpebu's proposal has sparked debate on the way forward for Ghana's governance. While some may argue that extending the presidential term would provide more stability, others believe that allowing parties to replace non-performing presidents midterm would ensure accountability. The country's governance system is a critical aspect of its development, and any changes to the Constitution must be carefully considered.
The Constitutional Review Committee's proposal to extend the presidential term has been met with mixed reactions. While some argue that it would provide more time for presidents to implement their policies, others believe that it would lead to abuse of power. Mr Kpebu's proposal offers an alternative solution that prioritizes accountability and good governance.
Key points
- Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu calls for constitutional amendment to allow parties to replace ineffective presidents before end of term.
- Mr Kpebu cites UK's parliamentary system as example Ghana could learn from.
- Proposal sparks debate on way forward for Ghana's governance.
