Mahama Government Spokesperson Argues for More Presidential Terms: "We Must Look at the Possibility"
- A government spokesperson wants to spark a discussion about the length of Ghana's presidential term limits
- Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim has argued that the current arrangement does not allow for sufficient development
- President John Mahama is currently in his final term as President and is not expected to seek re-election
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim believes it is time for a serious discussion about changing Ghana’s presidential term limits or length.
Muslim believes the current four-year mandate is not enough for any meaningful change.
Source: Facebook
She told TV3 the four-year term is wholly insufficient given the rigours of the election cycle.
“Expensive elections that begin and start upon the end of another election don’t look like a practical way of managing your very scarce resources."
“Year one is literally spent making appointments. By year two, even in year one, people are already talking about who leads which political party and who takes over from which political party,” she explained.
While acknowledging fears that extending term limits could enable abuse of power, Muslim suggested that creative constitutional adjustments could safeguard democratic accountability.
On having more than the two presidential terms, Muslim said:
“Even if we do not want to extend the term limits, we must look at the possibility of allowing multiple terms for political party candidates. Once a political party elects someone to lead, that person should be able to go more than two terms if the people themselves see that we are on a certain transformative path that requires continuation.”
President John Mahama is currently in the unique position of being an incumbent who, for the first time, will not be seeking re-election.
Ghana's laws say a person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.
Ewald Garr, a governance analyst, noted to YEN.com.gh that she was entitled to her opinion on the matter.
But he does not expect the current president to be a beneficiary of any changes to the term limit.
"From where I sit, I don’t think it is good for Mahama to try an extend his stay, and I don’t see him trying to do that. I expect him to serve his term and then somebody else comes."
The leading contenders for the NDC flagbearership
In the race to replace Mahama, pollsters and analysts have culled names expected to feature prominently in the governing party's flagbearer race.
Drawing on polling data from Global InfoAnalytics, the five leading candidates in the race are Haruna Iddrisu, the current education minister; Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the NDC national chairman; Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson; Julius Debrah, the current chief of staff; and Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Source: Facebook
What else does NDC flagbearer polling say?
Global InfoAnalytics polling from June indicated that of those who voted for Mahama in the 2024 elections, 30% preferred Iddrisu, 22% preferred Nketia, 24% preferred Forson, 8% preferred Ablakwa, and 3% preferred Klottey Korley MP Zenator Agyemang-Rawlings.
However, among voters who did not disclose who they voted for in the 2024 elections, 30% backed Haruna, 15% supported Nketia, 24% supported Forson, 10% supported Debrah, and 12% supported Ablakwa.
Eric Opoku speaks on NDC flagbearership links
YEN.com.gh also reported that the Minister for Food and Agriculture had left the door open to become the NDC flagbearer.
Despite his admission, Eric Opoku also stated that he remained focused on his current mandate as a Ghanaian minister.
Source: YEN.com.gh
