The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused President John Dramani Mahama of orchestrating a “hidden third-term agenda” designed to allow him to contest Ghana’s 2028 presidential election.
Henry Nana Boakye, the NPP’s National Organiser, made the claim at a news conference as the Supreme Court considers a case seeking clarification on the constitutional limits governing presidential terms.
Nana Boakye, widely known as Nana B, said the legal challenge concerning Article 66 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution was politically motivated. He alleged that it was intended to create a route for President Mahama to remain in office beyond the two-term limit.
The NPP executive claimed the president was attempting to distance himself publicly from the proceedings while remaining involved in efforts to extend his presidency.
“A veiled third-term agenda orchestrated by President Mahama himself. He is the one behind it. You ask President Mahama, ‘Oh, I am not interested, it’s only the Supreme Court. There are some applications before the Supreme Court. Whatever the Supreme Court decides, it is not my issue. As for me, I’m only committed to my third term.’ We must fight against this,” Nana B stated.
Nana B also warned the judiciary against adopting what he called an unusual or new interpretation of Article 66. He said such a decision could threaten Ghana’s political stability.
“Any attempt to introduce any weird interpretation regarding Article 66 would throw Ghana into political turmoil. Two terms is two terms. It is dangerous,” he said.
He further alleged that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President Mahama’s party, were involved in efforts to pursue another presidential bid on his behalf.
Nana B said the cases before the Supreme Court were politically sponsored and insisted that President Mahama was aware of, and behind, the legal action.
“And trust me, I can tell you on authority that His Excellency the President knows about this. He is behind this. And all of these applications before the Supreme Court, they are politically sponsored,” he alleged.
The NPP’s accusations follow the filing of a case at the Supreme Court asking it to interpret Article 66, which sets out the president’s tenure of office.
The action was brought by Ganiwu Alhassan, a teacher from Kpandai in Ghana’s Northern Region. He wants the court to determine whether someone who has served two separate, non-consecutive presidential terms can stand for election again.
The legal proceedings have therefore raised questions about whether the constitutional provisions prevent a former president who has completed two terms from seeking office for a third time.
President Mahama has previously said he does not intend to pursue a third term. He has also affirmed his commitment to observing the constitutional rules governing the length of time a president may remain in office.
The NPP, however, maintains that the Supreme Court case is part of a wider effort to reinterpret the constitution and open the way for President Mahama to stand in the 2028 election.
