4-Year Presidential term debate: Political science lecturer warns Ghanaians

Ghanaians have been urged to kick against propositions to extend the Four-Year mandate enshrined in the 1992 constitution for each president of the country.

A Political Science Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Mr Amakye Boateng warns that Ghanaians will live to regret should they endorse such an idea as this could be a recipe of giving the presidency dictatorial powers.

“We will seriously suffer under bad governance at a time the presidency already wields so much power. In event the government of the day is terrible, the citizenry will suffer and I do not think this is what are looking for as a country”, he cautioned on Abusua Nkomo hosted by Kwame Adinkra.

He accused politicians of asking for a longer term in the pursuit of their clandestine agenda when the management style of economy which they are seeking extension to manage, has over the years not witnessed any structural changes.

“The politicians are yearning for longer period to hold on to power. The four-year term should not be touched. The structure of the Ghanaian economy has not changed why will they be requiring a change in term? The basic things they have to do they have not done so why will they be asking for an extension of term for the president”, he quizzed.

He advised Ghanaians to rise up against such a decision blaming the politicians for deliberately delaying transition processes to make it look like they have little time on their side to properly execute their mandate.

“These are self-inflicted by the politicians themselves to buy time. Why should the citizenry allow that to happen? I am totally against this and want all Ghanaians to kick against it”, he said.