The people of Ghana gave me just one term – Mahama kicks against third term agenda

says his priority is to deliver on the commitments he made to Ghanaians rather than be distracted by the ongoing legal debate over presidential term limits.

Speaking during an engagement with citizens, the President said he remains focused on using his current mandate to achieve the goals set out by his administration, stressing that his responsibility is to fulfil the promises made to voters.

“The people of Ghana gave me a mandate for one term and I am working hard to meet the promises I made them,” President Mahama stated.

He said he has urged members of his government to work with a sense of urgency because of the limited period available to implement their programmes.

“I always tell my ministers, let’s number our days, so that we can work harder to meet the promises we made to the Ghanaian people,” he said.

The President’s comments come amid a case before the Supreme Court seeking an interpretation of Article 66(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which deals with the number of times a person can serve as President.

The suit, filed by Ghanaian citizen Ganiwu Alhassan, argues that the constitutional provision may only prevent a person from serving more than two consecutive terms, leaving room for someone who has served two separate non-consecutive terms to seek another mandate.

President Mahama, however, said his personal reading of the constitutional provision suggests that its meaning is straightforward, although he respects the right of citizens to seek judicial clarification.

“I know that people have gone to the Supreme Court seeking interpretation of the clause that governs the tenure of the president. If you ask my personal opinion, I thought that it was clear enough. I have read it several times, and it says exactly what it says. But if they want to ask the Supreme Court, that is their business,” he explained.

Mahama, who returned to the presidency in 2025 after previously serving from 2013 to 2017, said he would continue concentrating on fulfilling the confidence placed in him by the electorate.

“I know that the people of Ghana gave me one additional term, and I’m going to work to meet the trust that they put in me,” he added.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutional interpretation request after hearing arguments in the case involving the Attorney-General.

Yaw Opoku Amoako

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