The opposition party’s communicator says concerns over ongoing Supreme Court proceedings on presidential term limits require closer scrutiny, despite the President’s stated position.
A member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) communications team, Richard Gyamfi, has expressed reservations about President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge not to seek a third term, amid continuing debate over the constitutional limits on presidential tenure.
The concerns reflect the NPP’s broader position that the country must guard against any interpretation of the 1992 Constitution that could allow a president to remain in office beyond the permitted number of terms.
The debate has intensified following legal proceedings at the Supreme Court seeking clarification on whether the constitutional limit of two presidential terms applies to consecutive terms only or to two terms served at different periods.
The NPP has filed a case asking the court to clarify the provisions governing presidential tenure and affirm that a person cannot be elected president more than twice, irrespective of whether the terms are consecutive or non-consecutive.
The party has repeatedly questioned whether the ongoing legal proceedings could create an avenue for President Mahama to contest another presidential election.
In July 2026, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, accused the President of being behind what he described as a “veiled third-term agenda”. He argued that the constitutional term limits must be upheld and warned against any interpretation that could weaken them.
The NPP’s concerns centre on the constitutional interpretation being sought rather than any declared intention by the President to contest a third term.
President Mahama has previously stated that he does not intend to seek a third term, while government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has dismissed the allegations as political propaganda.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu has maintained that the President’s position on the matter is clear and that the legal proceedings should not be interpreted as evidence of a plan to extend his tenure.
Supreme Court proceedings remain central
The Supreme Court’s interpretation of Articles 58 and 66 of the 1992 Constitution is expected to provide clarity on the limits of presidential eligibility and the treatment of non-consecutive terms.
The outcome could have implications for future presidential elections and the interpretation of Ghana’s constitutional safeguards against prolonged political tenure.
The controversy has generated competing positions between the NPP and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), with the opposition demanding strict adherence to the two-term limit and government representatives rejecting suggestions that the President intends to circumvent the Constitution.
The court’s eventual determination will be central to resolving the legal question. Until then, claims about a possible third-term bid remain contested political assertions rather than an established presidential decision.
