The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) has proposed a significant change to Ghana’s constitutional requirements for presidential candidates, recommending that the minimum age to contest the presidency be reduced from 40 years to 30 years.
The proposal was announced on Monday, December 22, during the formal presentation of the Committee’s report at Jubilee House. Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Henry Kwasi Prempeh, explained that the recommendation is intended to broaden political participation and better reflect Ghana’s youthful population.
According to the Committee, the proposed reform would require an amendment to Article 62(b) of the 1992 Constitution. The aim is to remove age-related barriers that prevent younger but capable citizens from seeking the highest political office in the country. The Committee believes that leadership ability should not be narrowly defined by age and that the Constitution must evolve in line with social and demographic realities.
Beyond changes to eligibility for the presidency, the CRC also proposed reforms relating to the financial privileges of public office holders. The Committee recommended an amendment to Article 68(5) to ensure that the President’s salary, allowances, and official benefits are fully subject to taxation under existing tax laws.
Under the proposal, the President would also be required to pay indirect taxes, including import duties on goods and services, in the same way as all other citizens, reinforcing the principle of equality before the law.
In addition, the Committee proposed amendments to clauses (1) and (2) of Article 71. These changes would transfer responsibility for determining the salaries, allowances, facilities, and privileges of public office holders — including the President and other specified officials — to a proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission. According to the Committee, this would promote transparency, fairness, and public confidence in the remuneration system for public officials.
The proposals form part of the CRC’s broader constitutional reform agenda, which seeks to modernise Ghana’s governance framework, strengthen accountability, and deepen democratic participation.
