With all the executive powers vested in the President, the presidency is arguably the busiest position in the country. It requires the energy of a relatively youthful person to match the demands of the office.
This notwithstanding, article 62 (b) of the Constitution of Ghana implies that it is alright for a ninety-five-year-old with low energy, who perhaps must be nudged at all times to stay awake in both his office at the Jubilee House and at public functions, to become President of Ghana. Ironically, the same Constitution clearly implies that a thirty-five-year-old vibrant young Ghanaian is not mature or experienced enough to hold the high office of President.
Arguably, experience and wisdom are often associated with older age but we cannot gloss over the downside effects of old age regarding physical stamina, mental acuity, and the ability to connect with younger generations. If a thirty-five-year-old is not ripe enough for the presidency, then a ninety-five-year-old has no business sleeping on the job, literally, as the President of Ghana.
We need to amend our Constitution by introducing age limits as part of the qualifications for presidential elections, to ensure effective leadership, promotion of intergenerational equity, and alignment with the realities of modern governance.
As already stated, the presidency is an incredibly taxing job, requiring long hours, rapid decision-making, and the ability to manage crises effectively. Generally, age does not necessarily determine fitness but scientific studies have shown that cognitive decline and physical health issues become more prevalent as people age. This is why Ghana must set an upper age limit to reduce the risk of electing a leader who may struggle to perform his duties effectively due to age-related health challenges.
President Paul Biya of Cameroun is ninety years old and if what we see in his public appearances is anything to go by, then only heaven knows the unelected people around him who are actually exercising the executive powers in his stead and perhaps abusing these powers.
Recently in the United States, the presidency of Joe Biden was cut short to one term because key members of his party and the American people in general raised concerns about his mental sharpness, which many believed was caused by his advanced age.
Amending the Constitution to introduce an upper age cap can also address the issue of intergenerational equity, ensuring that younger Ghanaians have a fair opportunity to lead. Although it may not be the best of examples because he assumed power through a military coup d’etat, Captain Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso is a thirty-five-year-old leader who is admired by many young people across Africa. Like Thomas Sankara, he is showing that given a chance, young Africans can take up key leadership positions on the continent and make an impact.
If political leadership is dominated by older individuals, leaving little room for younger leaders to emerge, it can create a disconnect between the leadership and the youth, who make up a significant portion of the population.
Setting an upper age limit and reducing the current minimum age of forty years can encourage the participation of younger presidential candidates who may be more in tune with the aspirations and challenges of younger Ghanaians.
The world that the framers of the 1992 Constitution found themselves in has changed and keeps changing rapidly. Advancements in technology, globalization, and evolving societal values are reshaping the demands of leadership.
Younger leaders within a certain age boundary may be better equipped to navigate these changes, as they are often more familiar with emerging technologies and contemporary issues. For example, the rise of digital economies, climate change, and social media requires leaders who can adapt quickly and think innovatively. While experience is valuable, it must be balanced with the ability to respond to modern challenges.
In Ghana, where issues like youth unemployment, digital transformation, and sustainable development are critical, having leaders who understand and can address these issues effectively is essential.
Age limits can help ensure that presidential candidates are not only experienced but also are youthful enough to identify with the challenges facing the youth and resolve these challenges in a rapidly evolving world.
Some critics may say that capping the upper age as part of the qualification for presidential candidates in Ghana could unfairly exclude older individuals who may still be capable of effective leadership. The question then is why have we enacted laws to retire workers at sixty years? It is for a good reason.
Generally, productivity after a certain age threshold slows due to reduced mental and or physical energy or verve.
With a life expectancy of about sixty-four years, it is only natural that workers are made to retire at a certain point to spend the twilight of their lives relaxing and enjoying the fruits of their labour. Setting an upper age limit is not about discriminating against older people but rather setting reasonable boundaries to ensure the best possible leadership Ghana deserves. It is about balancing experience with vitality.
Many countries across the globe have implemented age limits for presidential candidates, thus, providing useful precedents. Kenya, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina among others all have upper age limits for their presidential candidates.
As you may have noticed, it is not only the absence of an upper age limit for presidential candidates I find to be problematic, the minimum entry age set for presidential candidates by the Constitution is also too high.
Many countries have had presidents who assumed the reins of power at an age below Ghana’s constitutionally-mandated minimum forty years and performed or are performing the functions of their offices admirably.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador was thirty-eight years old when he became President; Sebastian Kurz was a little above thirty years when he became Chancellor of Austria. President Gabriel Boric is another example.
He was thirty-six when he assumed the high office of President of Chile.
In the light of the foregoing, and given Ghana’s retirement age and life expectancy as well as precedents from other democratic countries, I propose a minimum entry age of thirty-five, attained on or before the day of elections, for presidential candidates. Regarding the upper age limit, I propose the following:
If on the day of elections, the candidate is:
1. sixty-seven years or below, he is qualified to serve two terms in office if elected;
2. within the age bracket of sixty-eight to seventy-one years, he is qualified to serve only one term in office if elected;
3. seventy-two years old or above, he is disqualified from standing for elections as President by reason of age limit.
In effect, no Ghanaian should serve as President beyond the age of seventy-five.
Introducing age limits for presidential candidates is not about undermining the value of experience or discriminating against older individuals.
Rather, it is about ensuring that leaders are physically and mentally equipped to handle the demands of the presidency, promoting intergenerational equity, and aligning leadership with the realities of a rapidly changing world.
For Ghana, where the youth population is vibrant and eager for change, age limits could be a step toward more inclusive and dynamic governance. By setting reasonable age boundaries, we can ensure that our leadership remains effective, responsive, and representative of all generations.