President John Dramani Mahama has formally dismissed growing speculations that he intends to seek a third presidential term, insisting that his respec
President John Dramani Mahama has formally dismissed growing speculations that he intends to seek a third presidential term, insisting that his respect for the constitutional two-term limit remains unchanged.
The President made the clarification while on a state visit to Singapore, where he held bilateral talks with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on economic cooperation and investment.
His comments come at a time when opposition figures, particularly within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have accused him of harbouring ambitions to extend his political stay beyond constitutional boundaries.
Background To The Speculation
Since his return to office in January 2025, following a landslide victory in the 2024 elections, rumours about Mahama’s political future have dominated the political space.
His second comeback after previously serving from 2012 to 2016 and losing the 2016 and 2020 polls, made him the first Ghanaian leader to reclaim the presidency after a hiatus.
This rare feat fueled speculation that John Mahama, buoyed by renewed popularity, might attempt to test the constitutional order by running again in 2028.
However, the 1992 Constitution explicitly bars any individual from serving more than two terms as President.
Mahama’s Assurance To Ghanaians
Speaking in Singapore on Wednesday, President Mahama said his decision not to run in 2028 is not only about respecting the law but also about safeguarding Ghana’s economic stability.
“I will not be a candidate in the next elections and therefore I can hold the line when it comes to fiscal discipline,” he declared, linking his political exit to efforts to curb the election-year overspending that has historically destabilized Ghana’s economy.
He criticized the practice of sitting governments loosening fiscal controls to win votes, which has often led to inflationary pressures, currency depreciation, and post-election crises.
Achievements Since Return To Power
Mahama also used the occasion to highlight his government’s achievements since taking office in January 2025.
He pointed to a sharp decline in inflation and interest rates, along with a marked appreciation of the cedi against major currencies, as signs that his administration had restored investor confidence and economic stability.
These gains, he argued, would be protected by his ability to enforce fiscal discipline in the lead-up to the 2028 elections, without the distraction of seeking personal political advantage.
NDC Leadership Weighs In
Back home, the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has echoed the President’s assurance.
The party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, stressed that the NDC has no plans to field Mahama for a third term, describing such rumours as “baseless political propaganda.”
“We have never run our party in ways that conflict with the national constitution, and we don’t intend to do that. We will stick by the tenets of the Constitution,” Nketiah affirmed.
He added that the NDC was already preparing for succession planning ahead of the 2028 elections, consistent with democratic principles.
Opposition Pressure And Political Climate
The NPP has in recent months intensified its claims that Mahama intends to “cling to power,” framing it as part of a broader narrative about the risks of one-party dominance.
Analysts believe the opposition is using the speculation to galvanize its base ahead of the next election cycle.
However, constitutional experts argue that Ghana’s entrenched two-term limit is one of the strongest safeguards of its democracy and would be extremely difficult to overturn.
What Lies Ahead
By ruling out a third term, Mahama has sought to shift the political conversation away from succession battles and towards governance and economic recovery.
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