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4 clusters · 21 sources · 6 days · First seen 10 days ago · Last updated 5 days ago

Ghanaian legal dispute over presidential term limits

Overview

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court of Ghana seeking a definitive interpretation of presidential term limits under the 1992 Constitution. The legal challenge, filed by solicitor Godfred Yeboah Dame against the Attorney-General, focuses on Articles 58(2) and 66. The NPP seeks declarations to clarify if the two-term limit applies to a person’s total time in office, regardless of whether terms are served consecutively or non-consecutively, arguing that no individual should serve more than eight years total.

The suit also addresses the eligibility of a Vice-President who assumes the presidency for more than half of a predecessor’s unexpired term, requesting a declaration that such an individual would only be eligible to contest for one additional full term.

Legal experts and political figures have offered varying perspectives. Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, known as Kwaku Azar, has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the court should function as a court of law rather than a “constitutional advice centre”. Similarly, legal practitioners Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers and Martin Luther Kpebu have suggested the provisions are already clear and that the suit may be premature.

Critics from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have also weighed in. Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, Director of Legal Affairs for the NDC, called the case a waste of the court’s time, arguing the NPP failed to properly invoke the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction under Article 2 because they did not identify a specific act or omission to challenge. Edudzi Tamakloe, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, added that the Supreme Court is not a forum for seeking legal opinions and suggested the NPP is presenting political concerns as constitutional matters.

Entities

Supreme Court of Ghana · New Patriotic Party · Ghana · John Dramani Mahama · Godfred Yeboah Dame

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 11 SOURCES] The New Patriotic Party filed a suit with the Supreme Court of Ghana against the Attorney-General.
[● 10 SOURCES] The NPP seeks a declaration that presidential term limits apply whether terms are consecutive or non-consecutive.
[● 9 SOURCES] The suit seeks interpretation of Articles 58(2) and 66(1), (2) and (3)(a) of the 1992 Constitution.
[● 8 SOURCES] The party argues a president cannot hold office for more than two four-year terms, totaling eight years.
[● 8 SOURCES] A Vice-President serving more than half of a predecessor's term should only be eligible for one additional term.

Timeline

5 days ago

[POLITICS] 5 sources
Ghanaian political figures criticize NPP Supreme Court term-limit case
Political figures in Ghana have criticized the NPP’s Supreme Court challenge on presidential term limits, arguing the case lacks a live legal dispute and improperly seeks legal opinions from the court.
8 days ago

[POLITICS] 6 sources
Ghana Supreme Court faces suits over presidential term limits
Ghana's Supreme Court is reviewing five lawsuits to clarify if presidential term limits are a lifetime cap or apply only to consecutive terms.
10 days ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
Kwaku Azar calls for dismissal of NPP presidential term limit suit
Legal scholar Kwaku Azar has urged Ghana's Supreme Court to dismiss the NPP's lawsuit regarding presidential term limits, arguing the court should not act as a constitutional advice centre.
10 days ago

[POLITICS] 16 sources
Ghana NPP files Supreme Court suit over presidential term limits
The New Patriotic Party has petitioned Ghana's Supreme Court to clarify if presidential term limits apply to both consecutive and non-consecutive terms under the 1992 Constitution.

Sources

3news.com · adomonline.com · angelonline.com.gh · chale.news · ekohotblog.com · ghanaguardian.com · ghanamma.com · ghananewss.com · myjoyonline.com · mynewsgh.com · onuaonline.com · opemsuo.com · otecfmghana.com · oyerepafmonline.com · rainbowradioonline.com · selfinger.com · starrfm.com.gh · theghanareport.com · theheraldghana.com · thehighstreetjournal.com · thevaultznews.com

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history