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Why President Mahama Should Not Pursue a Third Term
A third-term bid in 2028 would place President Mahama in direct conflict with the spirit and letter of Ghana’s constitutional order. Beyond the legal barrier, the political and economic costs of attempting to stretch the term limit would outweigh any perceived strategic gain.
First, the Constitution is unequivocal. Article 66 does not create ambiguity or interpretive space that could justify an extension. Any effort to reinterpret or amend it in favour of a sitting President would undermine the foundational safeguards that protect the Fourth Republic from executive overreach. Ghana’s stable reputation in the region is built on its refusal to tamper with such guardrails, especially after decades of political turbulence before 1992.
Second, the country cannot afford the instability that follows attempts to alter constitutional term limits. Across West Africa, moves to remove or dilute term limits have sparked unrest, weakened institutions and damaged investor confidence. Ghana has distinguished itself by avoiding these crises. A third-term attempt would reverse that record, placing the administration at the centre of avoidable tension, protests and international scrutiny.
Third, the President’s current mandate is tied to an agenda of rebuilding trust in leadership and stabilizing the economy. That mission requires a steady hand and a clear exit strategy. Introducing the distraction of a term-extension campaign would narrow political focus, drain energy from governance and slow the momentum behind recovery efforts. Instead of consolidating the “Resetting Ghana” agenda, the administration would find itself defending its legitimacy.
Finally, a third-term push would fracture the governing party at a moment when unity is essential. The NDC has a deep bench of ambitious future leaders. Forcing the party into a constitutional confrontation over succession would ignite internal rivalry, weaken the President’s coalition and diminish the moral authority that brought the administration back to power in 2024.
In short, respecting the two-term limit is not only a constitutional obligation. It is a strategic choice that protects national stability, preserves the integrity of the Fourth Republic and strengthens the President’s own legacy. Ending his service in 2028 would place Mahama firmly in the lineage of leaders who strengthened institutions rather than stretched them.
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