NO THIRD TERM, NO EXCUSES: GHANA MUST REJECT ANY TENURE-EXTENSION SCHEMES
Ghana’s hard-won democracy is under a quiet but dangerous strain. Behind recent clashes over representation and institutions lies a greater threat, growing whispers and political manoeuvres that edge toward reinterpreting or amending the constitutional presidential term limits, potentially undermining the heart of Ghana’s democratic safeguard. This cannot, must not, and will not happen. Sovereignty belongs to the people, and any attempt to warp our Constitution to extend presidential power is an assault on Ghana’s democratic order.
For more than three decades, Ghana’s 1992 Constitution has enshrined a firm limit: a president may serve no more than two terms. Article 66(2) of the Constitution is unambiguous, two terms and no more, and constitutional experts insist there is nothing to reinterpret to unsettle this provision. Attempts to argue otherwise are fundamentally illegitimate within Ghana’s constitutional framework.
Despite repeated assurances from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it is “committed to the two-term limit, rumors and political agitation have persisted, revealing a mindset that regards the Constitution as an obstacle rather than a trust to be upheld. On December 16, 2025, a Member of Parliament openly called for a third presidential term for President John Dramani Mahama, even declaring intentions to “test the law” to achieve it.
This is not a harmless discussion. Even proposals from civil society and individual organizations, urging the amendment of Article 66 to lift the two-term cap, sow confusion and risk imperializing the executive at the expense of checks and balances. These schemes, if embraced, could erode public faith in democratic institutions.
While former President Mahama has publicly stated he would respect the Constitution and leave office in 2028, critics point to the political context, including a super-majority in Parliament and recent institutional disputes, as fertile ground for constitutional manipulation if left unchecked.
Even respected legal authorities warn that tampering with term limits would destabilize Ghana’s hard-earned stability. Observers point to other African nations where attempts to extend executive tenure have triggered conflict, polarization, and weakened governance.
Let it be clear: Ghana’s two-term limit is not a suggestion; it is a constitutional anchor that ensures peaceful transfer of power, accountability, and political renewal. Any plan to reinterpret or alter this provision must be resisted in every lawful way available, either through Parliament, the courts, civil society, or the vigilant citizenry.
The NPP stands firm: Ghana’s Constitution is supreme, not subject to political convenience. Extending presidential tenure would be a reversal of our democratic progress and a clear threat to the republic that every Ghanaian cherishes. This must never happen. Ghana deserves leaders who respect the law, protect institutions, and safeguard democratic succession for generations to come.
By: Blessing Mantey
