Johnson Asiedu Nketia
The National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has rejected growing calls by some individuals for President John Mahama to seek a third term in office, describing such discussions as a potential threat to the country’s constitutional order.
Speaking in an interview on JB News Ghana, Mr. Asiedu Nketia, popularly known as General Mosquito, said presidential term limits should be subjected to a broader national debate to determine their merits rather than being centred around President Mahama, who has publicly stated his intention not to extend his stay in office beyond his current tenure.
He argued that attempts to push the President into the debate despite his position could create unnecessary tensions and undermine the principles of democratic governance.
“President Mahama, whom you are pushing this three-term agenda for, has publicly said he is not interested and would want to serve his term and exit,” he said.
According to him, discussions on whether Ghana should maintain or amend the existing presidential term limit should focus on the wider constitutional framework and not on an individual leader.
“I will suggest that we debate this presidential terms and assess each of the term limits, whether four or five years, on its merit rather than drawing President Mahama into the discussions.” Mr. Asiedu Nketia stated.
The NDC Chairman said Ghana had witnessed similar calls in the past, particularly during the latter years of former President Jerry Rawlings’ administration, when some people speculated that he would seek to remain in power after the 2000 general elections.
He said former President Rawlings, at the time, urged people to stop such commentary and allow him to focus on governing the country.
Mr. Nketia explained that repeated discussions about President Rawlings extending his stay in office eventually led to comments that sparked what became known as the “Swedru Declaration,” where Mr. Rawlings endorsed then Vice President John Evans Atta Mills as his preferred successor.
He cautioned that restricting citizens’ ability to change governments through constitutional means could create instability and encourage unconstitutional attempts at gaining power.
“Immediately you block the means of peaceful change, you invite forceful change,” he stated.
The NDC Chairman, however, stressed the need for policy continuity, arguing that long-term development programmes should not be abandoned simply because there is a change in government.
“It is important that we have policy consistency as a country, but that does not mean policies can only be executed by one government. They can be continued.
“We need to understand whether a government being in power for over four years has something good to offer us as a country, and likewise also for four years, bearing in mind some of the challenges we may have had some years ago and the benefits of constitutional governance,” he pointed out.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia added that any discussion on the length of presidential terms must consider the advantages and challenges associated with governance under the current constitutional arrangement.
Meanwhile, a group calling itself Ghanaians for Progress last week called on President John Mahama to contest the 2028 general election, despite disclosing that he has no such interest to seek a third term in office.
Public Relations Officer of the group, Dr. Daniel Appiah, in an interview with journalists in Kumasi, said the country needs the likes of President Mahama’s leadership to undertake ongoing economic reforms.
The group also called for a review of the two-term presidential limit contained in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, who explained government’s position on the proposals of the Constitution Review Committee, said government has accepted the proposal to extend the presidential term limits of presidents from four to five years.
He indicated that government will hold a referendum followed by a bill to Parliament for the necessary amendment.
He, however, mentioned that the referendum and amendment of the five-year presidential term limit, if approved, would not start from the sitting President, John Mahama.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah