The District Chief Executive of Asante Akyem North has thrown his weight behind calls for the extension of the term of office of the president from four to five years. Mr. Thomas Osei Bonsu has therefore asked the Constitutional Review Commission to make a proposal to that effect. He also called for a healthy debate on the issue devoid of any political sentiment. The idea was first mooted by former President John Agyekum Kufuor in his last speech to Parliament. Mr Osei Bonsu noted that when the New Patriotic Party government led by former President Kufuor took over from the then National Democratic government, it was only during the middle of the second year that “it was able to settle down” to initiate its projects. The DCE said it was based on that that the government was able to “convince the populace that he (Kufuor) must be given the second mandate so that he could do well to put things right”. Mr Osei Bonsu was of the view that the five-year term of office will forge unity among the citizens. But why did the NDC kick against it when it was first proposed? He explained: “Every opposition party knows the right thing but they will argue against it because if he is not in power and he assents to that effect, he will think that probably the other side will get that privilege. So really it is a fact that five year is an ideal one.” Head of Communications at the Constitutional Review Commission, Papa Kow Acquaye, speaking on the issue said the commission has received both oral and written submissions on the topic. He said the people argued that with the four years the president has “one year to settle down, take stock of the economy, take stock of things, appoint people to various offices, both political boards and executive, and then between the second and third year, he starts implementing his own projects, vision and ideas. Before he does realize it the fourth year is upon us and we have to go for election”. Papa Kow Acquaye said most of the submissions advocated for anything between five and six years. Others, he said, raised the issue of cost to back their calls for the extension. Concerns were also raised about the divisive nature of elections. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana