Ghana has accepted a proposal to extend the presidential term from four years to five and reduce the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35.

The decision follows a review of the country's 1992 Constitution by a committee established last year by President John Mahama.

However, Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu, clarified on Thursday that the proposed constitutional amendment would not apply to the incumbent president if eventually approved.

Announcing the government's position, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Dominic Ayine said the recommendation was accepted to give future administrations more time to implement their policies and development programmes before returning to the electorate.

According to Ayine, the current four-year electoral cycle limits effective governance because transition activities at the start of a term and election preparations toward the end leave governments with little time to fully execute their agenda.

He explained that extending the presidential tenure to five years would provide a more practical period for governance, policy implementation, and the evaluation of government performance.

The government also approved a recommendation to extend the tenure of Parliament to align with the proposed five-year presidential term.

In addition, it endorsed a proposal to move presidential elections to the first week of November, creating a wider gap between the polls and the January 7 inauguration date.

The proposed constitutional amendment will now undergo the required legislative processes before being presented to Ghanaians in a national referendum expected in 2027.

For the amendment to take effect, at least 40 percent of registered voters must participate in the referendum, while a minimum of 75 percent of those voting must support the proposal.