Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine confirmed on July 30, 2026, that government has accepted a Constitutional
Review Committee recommendation to lower Ghana's presidential eligibility age - but set it at 35, not the 30
years the committee proposed. The current threshold, in force since 1992, is 40.
Dr Ayine said 35 "strikes a balance between opening opportunities for younger leadership and ensuring
maturity and experience in governance." The number isn't arbitrary - it's the same age Ghana used under the
1960 Republican Constitution, before the 1992 Constitution pushed it up to 40.
What the law currently says
Article 62(b) of the 1992 Constitution bars anyone under 40 from running for President, alongside requirements of being a citizen by birth and otherwise qualified to sit as an MP. That 40-year floor stays in force until an actual amendment passes - this is a government-accepted proposal, not a completed change.
How it gets from proposal to law
President John Dramani Mahama's Constitutional Review Committee handed government a broader reform package,
and the age limit was just one line item. A separate committee is now expected to draft the actual amendment
bills, targeted for readiness by October 2026.
From there, the bills need parliamentary approval. Because eligibility age sits among Ghana's entrenched
constitutional provisions, it will also require a referendum before it's binding.
It's not just about age
Government accepted two other changes in the same announcement. Presidential and parliamentary terms move from four years to five, though this won't apply to Mahama's current term. Presidential elections would also shift to the first week of November, widening the gap before the January 7 inauguration.
What this means for Ghana's younger politicians
A 35-year floor doesn't just tidy up an old constitutional number - it opens the field to a specific cohort
of MPs, party organisers and district-level politicians who are currently locked out purely by age,
regardless of experience. Ghana's median age sits around 21, and the African Union's own youth definition
runs up to 35 - meaning the current 40-year rule has effectively excluded the entire demographic the
constitution technically still calls "youth."
The comparison worth sitting with is the US, where 35 has been the presidential floor since 1787 and nobody
treats it as unusually low. Nigeria uses the same number. Ghana's 1992 negotiators chose 40 specifically to
raise the bar past what 1960 allowed - so this reform is less an innovation than an acknowledgment that the
higher bar didn't obviously serve the country better.
What nobody in government has addressed yet: whether a lower age limit actually changes who gets nominated,
given that party structures - not the constitution - have historically been the bigger gatekeeper for
younger candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Is the presidential age limit already 35 in Ghana?
No. As of July 31, 2026, the constitutional requirement remains 40 years under Article 62(b). The 35-year figure is a government-accepted proposal awaiting draft legislation, parliamentary approval, and a referendum.
Why did government reject the committee's recommendation of 30?
Attorney-General Dominic Ayine said 35 better balances youth opportunity against the need for governing experience. The CRC itself had recommended 30.
When will the amendment bills be ready?
A separate drafting committee is targeting October 2026 for the bills covering the age limit, term length, and election timing changes.
Does the term extension to five years apply to President Mahama?
No. Government has stated the extended term will not apply to the incumbent president.
Will Ghanaians vote on this change directly?
Yes. Because the presidential age qualification is an entrenched constitutional provision, it requires a referendum in addition to parliamentary approval before taking effect.