Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has called for a re-evaluation of the four-year presidential term in Ghana and Nigeria, arguing that the duration is too short for any meaningful transformation.

Speaking at the Executive Leadership Retreat held in Ada on Thursday, Jonathan said the current term structure places undue pressure on new leaders and restricts their ability to deliver lasting reforms.

According to the former president, most African countries have adopted longer presidential terms, giving leaders more time to settle into office, roll out policies, and oversee their implementation.

He contrasted Ghana and Nigeria’s four-year terms with other nations on the continent, where presidential terms are generally longer.

“Getting a competent hand to manage major developments of government is critical, and it is lacking in most of our countries. Already you have appointed the cabinet, but from the information I have because I ask questions, I am not seeing 100%. We can never get 100% because we must balance the situation. But the economic team must be made up of top-class people, and they too must lead because leadership is not the president alone,” he said.

Jonathan emphasized that a four-year tenure, especially for first-time presidents, is insufficient to navigate the learning curve and still make substantial progress before facing the electorate again.

“Nigerian and Ghana, our tenure of presidency is so short. It's only in Africa, only in Ghana and Nigeria, that have four-year of tenure of presidency. Most countries have 5. If you are a new person, you need about a year before you will adjust. Work for two years and an election year. So time is really limited,” he added.