Wednesday, 10 December

Gov’t rejects NPP’s claims of President Mahama planning third term bid

Politics
Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has dismissed allegations that President John Dramani Mahama plans to seek a third presidential term, describing the claims as “baseless and imaginary.”

His reaction follows assertions by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the President secretly intends to pursue a third term despite Ghana’s constitutional two-term limit.

The NPP pointed to comments by some social media supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) urging Mahama to extend his stay in office.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV on  Tuesday, December 9, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the opposition had created unnecessary controversy around an issue the President himself has already clarified.

“The NPP has whipped itself into needless frenzy.

President Mahama has stated emphatically that he will respect the Ghanaian Constitution.

Because he’s a consummate democrat, there’s no third term anywhere for him or any other person as far as the constitution is concerned,” he stressed.

He added that the personal views of individuals on social media have no bearing on constitutional governance.

“Anyone can say what they want. The fact that some people have gone on Facebook to say he should go for a third term doesn’t mean that will happen.

The man himself has said he’s not interested.”

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu urged the NPP to desist from what he described as a needless political distraction.

“NPP should stop wasting their time and everybody’s time, and purporting to be angry.

It’s an absurd fantasy they’re getting themselves into.

The President has not expressed any intent.

Any talk about it is a complete waste of everybody’s time.”

 

President Mahama had earlier reiterated this position on August 27 during a bilateral meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

He said his decision not to run in 2028 was a deliberate commitment to reinforce Ghana’s constitutional order and to curb election-year overspending driven by political ambition.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah