Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, says Ghana should consider allowing political parties to decide who leads them beyond the existing two-term limit for presidents.
She was reacting to proposals made by stakeholders at a constitutional review forum organised by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), where participants suggested extending the presidential term of office from four to five years.
According to the stakeholders, the extension would give sitting presidents enough time to implement policies and ensure continuity in governance.
Speaking on Tv3 on October 30, Shamima Muslim described it as an interesting conversation, noting that Ghana’s democracy still struggles to deliver the transformation citizens expect.
“For a nation like ours, almost 70 years after independence, to be where we are. This democracy that we are practicing is receiving some hit backs because it is failing to deliver the transformation that we require,” she said.
“At the basis of that transformation is longevity. It is true that the four-year term is wholly insufficient if we are truly to change the path and trajectory of our development,” she added.
Shamima Muslim proposed that rather than extending the presidential term itself, the state could allow political parties to re-nominate candidates for more than two terms if they continue to deliver results.
“I think that even if we don’t want to extend the term limits, we must look at the possibility of allowing multiple nominations,” she said.
“For example, a candidate of a political party, once the party elects them to lead, should be able to go more than two terms. Because the people themselves will also see if we’re on a certain transformative path that requires continuation.”
While acknowledging the forum’s suggestion for a five-year term, she said the concern would be that if we have a bad president, we’re stuck with him for a five-year period.
“My counter proposal might be that we allow the parties to decide who they want to lead them, even beyond a two-term limit,” she suggested.
Giving an example, she said, “If a party decided to vote Rhodaline for three terms because her vision seems to be delivering results, allow the party to make that decision. Then the nation goes into an election and decides whether they still want the party or not.”
She added that such flexibility could help sustain progress under effective leadership.
“This is in an ideal situation where we come into a party or government that is doing all the right things.”
