Political Scientist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has stated emphatically that he is completely opposed to any discussion suggesting that President John Dramani Mahama could seek a third presidential term.
Speaking on The AM Show on Wednesday, December 10, Dr Asah-Asante said he does not support any attempt—no matter how minor—to alter Ghana’s Constitution to extend presidential tenure.
“I am fully against any idea, however small it may be, from any quarter, with even a day increase in the tenure of the presidency of Mr Mahama. No, I don’t want to know, and I don’t want to hear that,” he stated.
He warned that experiences from other African countries should serve as a strong cautionary lesson, noting that constitutional changes aimed at prolonging leadership often lead to instability.
“As a student of democracy, we have seen from the sub-region and across Africa the trouble countries get into when constitutions are tinkered with to suit the whims and caprices of leaders seeking a third term. We don’t want that,” he said.
Dr Asah-Asante stressed that President Mahama himself has consistently dismissed any ambition for a third term, describing the matter as settled.
“Mahama himself has said he is not interested, and that is the end of the road for me,” he said, adding that he would be shocked if the former president ever changed his position.
“I’ll be surprised if Mahama comes back one day to say the people want him and he agrees. Even if the people say so, I’ll still be surprised,” he noted.
He further cautioned that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would face strong legal resistance should it entertain the idea.
“I believe the NDC will not dare move this country into a third term. Nobody is going to sit down for a third term to happen. We will use all legal means to resist it,” he declared.
Dr Asah-Asante criticised individuals within and outside the NDC who continue to push the narrative of a Mahama third term.
“They are being unfair to the president. The president himself has said he is not interested. Why are you pushing this?” he questioned.
Explaining the philosophy behind Ghana’s constitutional term limits, he said the framers deliberately designed the system to limit power and protect democracy.
“No matter who you are—Plato, Aristotle, Socrates—you cannot go beyond two terms. That is the wisdom behind the Constitution, and we must stay our course,” he explained.
According to him, two terms are sufficient for any leader to make a meaningful impact.
“The Constitution does not give you two terms. It gives you one. By hard work, the people may add one. If you have something to leave as a legacy, you don’t need three terms,” he said.
He also warned of the dangers of extended tenure, especially under poor leadership.
“If you encourage this and it becomes the norm, and you have a brutal leader with a long tenure, all of us will suffer. There will be no Ghana as we know it,” he cautioned.
Dr Asah-Asante concluded by pledging firm opposition to any attempt to reintroduce the idea of a third presidential term.
“Let us not go on this trajectory. I stand for democracy. I stand for two terms—nothing more, nothing less,” he stressed.
