Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed concerns about the four-year presidential term in Ghana and Nigeria, describing it as insufficient when compared to other African countries.
He argued that while many African nations enjoy presidential terms longer than four years, leaders in Ghana and Nigeria struggle with limited time to make meaningful transformations, especially first-time presidents, who typically spend the first two years navigating a steep learning curve.
“What can somebody do in four years? If you’re a new person and you just come in, you need about two years in learning curve before you will adjust. You work for two years, the next year is election year. So the time to really move your country is very, very limited.” He said.
He also underscored the importance of appointing competent individuals to key positions in government, a challenge he believes is common across many countries. While acknowledging that it’s impossible to achieve 100% perfection in appointments due to the need to maintain balance, he emphasized the critical role of leadership at all levels.
“You can never get 100% because you must balance the situations. But the economic team must be made up of top class people that can push and they too must lead because leadership. It is not the president alone, the ministers, the junior ministers and others holding executive positions.” he said
The former president’s remarks point to his calls for both longer presidential terms and the appointment of competent leaders to effectively drive national development.
He made these statements at the launch of the Executive Leadership Programme in Ada, Ghana.The programme was organized under the auspices of the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, in collaboration with the Office of the President of Ghana, and targets top public servants, beginning with the newly constituted Cabinet.
The initiative is designed to provide a platform for structured dialogue, strategic reflection, and collective problem-solving in addressing the complexities of modern governance. It aims to align the new government’s vision with long-term national goals while equipping political leaders with advanced leadership skills. Key focus areas include cultivating deep listening, self-awareness, and a mindset geared toward empowering others, essential traits for effective, empathetic, and informed governance.
Story by: Salomey Barnor