President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed speculation about a possible third-term bid, stating clearly that he will step down after completing a second mandate in office.
Speaking during bilateral talks with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as part of his three-day state visit, Mahama emphasized that Ghana’s two-term presidential limit is non-negotiable. He explained that exiting after two terms shields his government from the temptation of election-year spending, allowing strict fiscal discipline until his final day in office. He cited declining inflation, lower interest rates, and a more stable cedi as evidence of this approach.
The President also cautioned against the culture of loosening financial controls to gain voter support during election cycles. His remarks directly counter opposition claims that he intends to extend his stay beyond the constitutional cap. National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah backed Mahama’s stance, stressing in a Channel One TV interview on Tuesday, August 26, that the party has no plan to present Mahama as a candidate beyond 2028. The reaffirmation, analysts note, is aimed at calming succession debates within the NDC while underlining the party’s commitment to Ghana’s democratic framework.
