President of the Upper East Youth Association, Francis Adingo, has called for the introduction of an upper age limit for presidential candidates in Ghana’s Constitution, proposing that only individuals between the ages of 30 and 50 should be eligible to run for the highest office in the land.
Mr. Adingo made this bold proposal during a stakeholder engagement held in Bolgatanga by the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), which is leading nationwide consultations to gather citizen input on reforming the 1992 Constitution.
According to him, the time has come for Ghana to reflect the realities of a youthful and technologically driven society by making space for dynamic, vibrant leaders with the capacity and energy to govern in modern times.
“If we say retirement is at 60, then why should we be electing people who are far older to lead us?” Adingo queried. “From age 30 to 50 should be the benchmark. Beyond that, people should retire and support in advisory roles.”
He lamented the performance of past aging presidents, citing visible signs of fatigue and disengagement during public functions as justification for the call.
“We’ve seen former presidents sleeping at official events, and that’s not because they’re not intelligent, but because age has caught up with them. You can’t expect someone with grandchildren and health issues to sit through marathon cabinet meetings,” he said, without naming specific individuals.
Mr. Adingo emphasized that the presidency should not be a retirement plan but rather a demanding role that requires mental agility, physical strength, and digital literacy.
His comments sparked strong interest among participants, with many youth groups at the engagement agreeing that the Constitution must evolve to reflect Ghana’s youthful demographic and the digital age.
He further argued that the Constitution concentrates excessive powers in the presidency—particularly in appointing heads of key institutions like the Electoral Commission, security agencies, and the judiciary—leaving those appointees vulnerable to political pressure.
“The President shouldn’t have sole power to appoint the IGP, Chief of Defense Staff, or Electoral Commissioners. These roles should be filled by a Public Appointments Commission that is truly independent. The President can make recommendations, but the final decision must come from a neutral body,” he insisted.
Touching on governance at the local level, Mr. Adingo also threw his support behind calls to elect Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), saying it would eliminate the patronage and conflict that often mar appointments.
“Let people decide. Appointments create friction and divisions even within political parties. Elected leaders will be more accountable to the people and work harder for their districts.”
On natural resource management, the youth leader called for constitutional amendments that empower local communities to benefit more directly from resources extracted from their lands.
“When mining companies pay 5% in royalties to the state, only 1 or 2% trickles down to the host communities. That is unjust. We must constitutionally mandate that a significant portion—at least 60%—of resource revenue stays with the local communities,” he stressed.
He criticized foreign firms for exploiting Ghana’s natural wealth with little local benefit, calling it “economic colonialism” that the Constitution should help redress.
Mr. Adingo concluded by calling for the decoupling of the Attorney General’s office from the Ministry of Justice, stronger provisions for local governance, and the scrapping or reform of institutions like the Council of State, which he said had become a ceremonial body with no enforceable powers.
“This constitution isn’t totally outmoded. It’s the implementation that has failed us. But with the right reforms, it can serve the next generation better,” he said.
The CRC engagement forms part of a national dialogue to build consensus on key constitutional reforms. The Upper East Region’s forum was held at the Akayet Hotel in Bolgatanga and attracted civil society, political actors, traditional leaders, and youth groups.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
