Barker-Vormawor calls for referendum on five-year presidential term
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Constitutional Rights and Policy Strategy Advisor at Democracy Hub, has faulted the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) for classifying the proposal to extend the presidential term to five years as a semi-entrenched provision.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Wednesday, January 7, Barker-Vormawor argued that the issue is far too fundamental to be determined solely by Parliament and should instead be subjected to a national referendum, allowing Ghanaians to decide directly.
He explained that under the CRC’s proposals, constitutional provisions are grouped into entrenched clauses, which require approval through a referendum, and semi-entrenched clauses, which can be amended by Parliament with a supermajority.
While he acknowledged that this framework is intended to streamline constitutional amendments, he insisted that the length of a presidential term is central to Ghana’s democratic architecture.
“I disagree with the committee. I think it is one of the questions that should go to a referendum. It is one of the questions that they put into the semi-entrenched category that goes to Parliament. I think this is a question that people should speak on,” he stated.
Barker-Vormawor further noted that since the two-term limit for the presidency has been placed under entrenched provisions requiring a referendum, any proposal affecting the duration of a presidential term should be treated similarly.
He cautioned that excluding citizens from such a critical decision risks eroding public confidence in the constitutional review process and undermining trust in reforms aimed at strengthening democratic governance.
