President John Dramani Mahama has once again ruled out any attempt to seek a third term in office, reiterating his commitment to Ghana’s constitutional two-term presidential limit during a high-level meeting with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders.
The Herald has gathered that the President restated his position at an emergency closed-door consultative meeting with the influential advisory body at the Flagstaff House on Friday, May 29, 2026, shortly before his departure for the United Kingdom (UK).
Sources familiar with the meeting said President Mahama used the occasion to put to rest persistent speculation about a possible third-term bid, a subject that has generated considerable debate within sections of the ruling party and the wider political landscape.
The Elders Council, chaired by Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu and attended by several veteran party figures, including some who have been associated with the party since the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military era, was convened primarily to address growing concerns over premature succession campaigns within the NDC.
According to sources, President Mahama firmly reiterated that he would not seek another presidential mandate beyond his current term, reinforcing remarks he first made during a state visit to Singapore last year.
The intervention comes amid increasing tensions within the governing party over succession politics, with reports suggesting that rivalry among supporters of various potential presidential aspirants has begun affecting constituency and regional party activities.
Notably, the meeting took place without the participation of the NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, and National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, both of whom have publicly rejected calls for President Mahama to seek a third term.
The issue has become increasingly contentious within party circles, amid growing public advocacy by some supporters urging the President to explore constitutional avenues that could allow another presidential bid.
Some proponents have argued that the Supreme Court should be invited to interpret whether the constitutional two-term limit applies only to consecutive terms or to the total number of terms a president serves throughout his or her political career.
However, the party’s leadership has consistently dismissed such suggestions.Senior NDC officials maintain that the party remains fully committed to Ghana’s constitutional order and has no intention of supporting any legal, political, or legislative effort to extend presidential term limits.
The debate has also been fuelled by claims from opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) figures that President Mahama harbours ambitions of seeking a third term.
Among the allegations were claims that the Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Prof Kwasi Prempeh, had been influenced to recommend changes that could benefit the President politically.
Other claims suggested that future judicial appointments could be used to advance a supposed third-term agenda, alleging that President Mahama would appoint Gabriel Scott Pwamang of the Supreme Court as the next Chief Justice after Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie, to realise his secret third-term agenda.
Both allegations have been firmly rejected by government officials and NDC leaders.President Mahama himself addressed the matter publicly during a three-day state visit to Singapore in August last year, declaring unequivocally that he would not contest the 2028 presidential election.
Speaking after bilateral talks with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Mr Mahama said his decision not to seek re-election would enable him to focus on maintaining fiscal discipline and implementing difficult but necessary economic reforms.
“I will not be a candidate in the next elections, and therefore I can hold the line when it comes to fiscal discipline,” the President stated.
That position has since been repeatedly reinforced by senior party officials.
Addressing the 44th anniversary celebration of the 31st December Revolution last year, General Secretary Fifi Kwetey condemned advocates of a third-term agenda, describing them as “sycophants” and “bootlickers”, asserting that such appeals are self-serving attempts to secure personal interest rather than genuine expressions of love for the country and the party.
Source: theheraldghana.com
