[REVISION HISTORY]

Ghana Mahama third-term controversy escalates

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-31 04:23 UTC → 2026-09-06 16:01 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The dispute began in early July 2026 when a teacher filed a petition asking Ghana’s Supreme Court to interpret Article 66(2) of the 1992 Constitution regarding whether the two-term limit applies only to consecutive terms—a move that could permit former President John Dramani Mahama to run again. New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials publicly rejected the suit, warning it would rewrite the constitution. In Parliament, opposition MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of pursuing a hidden agenda behind the 2026 mid-year budget and pledged that the electorate would not permit a third term. A nationwide poll released on 27 July by Global InfoAnalytics showed 65% of voters backed Mahama's statement that he would not seek a third term, while 27% opposed it. By early August, the government dismissed the debate as NPP propaganda. Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that Mahama has repeatedly stated he will not run again, citing remarks made on an international platform in Singapore. Simultaneously, NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah warned that calls for a third term represent a “dangerous development” that could cause internal party divisions and provide the NPP with political ammunition. On 29 August, the narrative shifted as NDC regional organizer Anthony Nukpenu claimed the party holds the 184 seats necessary to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Nukpenu argued the NDC could amend the constitution via a national referendum to allow a third term, suggesting the current eight-year limit hinders sustainable development by leaving projects unfinished during leadership changes. In response to these claims of parliamentary dominance, NPP lawmaker Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku warned against the dangers of a party holding a supermajority, accusing the NDC of abusing its numerical strength to pass legislation, such as the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Bill, without adequate scrutiny.

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