Why two MPs want the age of parliamentary aspirants capped at 65

Two Members of Parliament, Ohene Kwame Frimpong of Asante Akyem North and Ibrahimah Mohammed Zuwera of Salaga South, have presented a Private Members’ Bill proposing changes to Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution to introduce an upper age limit for parliamentary candidates.

The bill suggests capping eligibility at 65 years, which would bar individuals above that age from contesting parliamentary elections across all constituencies.

In the draft submitted to the Clerk of Parliament on March 10, 2026, the MPs pointed out that although the Constitution sets the minimum age for parliamentary candidates at 21, it currently does not provide any upper age restriction.

They argue that changing governance dynamics, shifts in democratic practice, and the demand for effective lawmaking make a review necessary.

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“Parliamentary duties require sustained physical stamina, cognitive agility, and responsiveness to complex policy challenges, including digital transformation, climate change, and global economic integration,” the draft stated.

They further indicated that introducing a reasonable age cap would help maintain consistent performance in parliamentary work, minimise challenges linked to age-related limitations, and support orderly leadership succession within the legislature.

The MPs added that the proposal is in line with global standards aimed at strengthening institutional capacity.



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