Yesterday, Tuesday, December 9, the Minority Caucus staged a protest in Parliament, chanting “No Third Term, Mahama! We want peace, Mahama”.They cited growing calls for a third term for the incumbent President John Dramani Mahama from some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This is not the first time they have made such claims. In early May, when President Mahama nominated seven justices to the Supreme Court, Minority leader Afenyo-Markin mentioned that the move “reveals a deeper, more dangerous political ambition, a third-term agenda in disguise.”

However, yesterday’s display in Parliament marked the first organised parliamentary action against the alleged third-term agenda.

Speaking in reaction to this, Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, during an appearance on Channel One TV’s Face to Face programme on Tuesday, December 9, rebuffed the claims, labelling them as“absurd” and unfounded. According to him, President Mahama, over the years, has proven himself as an ardent democrat.

“It’s an absurd fantasy they’re getting themselves into. The NPP have whipped itself into needless frenzy. President Mahama has stated emphatically that he will respect the Ghanaian Constitution. Because he’s a consummate democrat, there’s no third term anywhere for him or any other person as far as the constitution is concerned. Anyone can say what they want.

He continued that, even though some netizens have called for a third term, President Mahama has explicitly stated that he is not interested.

“The fact that some people have gone on Facebook to say he should go for a third term doesn’t mean that will happen. The man himself has said he’s not interested.”

He urged the opposition to stop what he described as “needless speculation,” adding, “So NPP should stop wasting their time and everybody’s time, and purporting to be angry. The President has not expressed any intent. Any talk about it is a complete waste of everybody’s time.”

In late August, President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to Ghana’s two-term presidential limit, making it clear that he has no intention of extending his tenure. He dismissed allegations that his government is plotting to stay beyond the constitutional limit and reiterated that he will not be on the ballot in 2028.

President Mahama made these remarks during a bilateral meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as part of his three-day state visit.

He said this position places him in a stronger position to enforce fiscal discipline and curb the recurring election-year overspending that has contributed to Ghana’s cyclical economic crises.

According to him, he has no reason to bend fiscal rules and embezzle state funds just to win elections, assuring that this is his last term as president.

“I will not be a candidate in the next elections, and therefore I can hold the line when it comes to fiscal discipline,” he assured.

His remarks came amid claims by some critics at the time, particularly members of the opposition party, NPP General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, who alleged that the attempts to sack the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo were part of a broader scheme to reinterpret Article 66(2) of Ghana’s Constitution to allow the president to contest another term.

Kodua claimed that some individuals were pushing the idea that the two-term limit only applies to consecutive terms, which would allow Mahama, whose terms were non-consecutive, to run again.

“I am telling you, certain people plan to interpret Article 66(2) of the Constitution to mean that the two-term limit refers to two successive terms. Therefore, because Mahama contested and lost before winning later, they argue that he is eligible to contest again since his terms were not successive. Mark today’s date, April 24, 2025; we will return to this issue. If that were not the case, the Chief Justice would not have been asked to stay home based on a frivolous petition, he stated during an appearance on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on April 24, 2025.

These claims were widely rejected by Mahama himself and by senior figures in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the constitutional two-term limit.

However, these claims were largely rejected by the government, which assured Ghanaians of its respect for the public mandate.

Additionally, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), publicly rejected the idea of Mahama seeking a third term, saying:

“No, please. We have never run our party in ways that conflict with the national constitution. And we don’t intend to do that.”

Per the Constitution, a president has at most two terms to serve the country. A term comprises four years.

Article 66 of the 1992 Constitution indicates the following:

(1) A person elected as President shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President.

(2) A person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.

(3) The office of the President shall become vacant—

(a) on the expiration of the period specified in clause (1) of this article; or

(b) if the incumbent dies or resigns from office or ceases to hold office under Article 69 of this Constitution.

(4) The President may, by writing signed by him, and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, resign from his office as President. (1) A person elected as President shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President.

(2) A person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.

The late President Atta-Mills, who won the 2008 elections, passed away in July 2012, and as such, his then Vice President, Mahama, became President due to the vacancy left.

He completed Mills' tenure and, in 2013, managed to win the elections to be elected President. He lost the seat to the now President Akufo-Addo in the 2016 elections. As such, he governed Ghana for one term, and per the constitution, he is entitled to another as he laces his boots for the 2024 elections.

Mahama won the 2024 elections; as such, he would not be able to contest the 2028 elections.

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia lost the 2024 presidential election, with John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) securing 6,328,397 valid votes, representing 56.55%, against Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s 4,657,304 votes, representing 41.61%.