The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) has proposed a mandatory three-year cooling-off period for former Electoral Commission (EC) Chairpersons and Deputy Commissioners as part of reforms to safeguard the neutrality of the country’s electoral management body.

Presenting its report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22, the Committee said the proposed restriction would bar former EC leaders from taking up any other public office for three years after leaving the Commission.

“A person who has held the office of Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner shall, upon retiring or resigning from the position, be ineligible for appointment to any other public office, until after a three-year cooling-off period,” the report noted.

According to the CRC, the measure is designed to clearly separate electoral administration from post-service political or public appointments, thereby reinforcing the perception and reality of independence within the Electoral Commission.

The cooling-off provision forms part of a broader set of constitutional amendments aimed at improving governance and strengthening democratic institutions in Ghana.