The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has once again firmly dismissed any suggestion of a third-term agenda for President John Dramani Mahama, stressing its commitment to Ghana’s constitutional order and democratic principles.
Speaking on the matter on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, December 16, the General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, said the party would not support any attempt to alter the Constitution to extend presidential tenure, regardless of its parliamentary strength.
Kwetey described Ghana as a leading example of democratic transition in sub-Saharan Africa, noting that the country’s respect for constitutional limits has continued to inspire other democracies across the region.
“First and foremost, you must appreciate that all over sub-Saharan Africa, if there is one country that has been able to provide the model that continues to be an inspiration in terms of democratic transition, it is Ghana,” he stated.
He emphasised that the NDC would never encourage actions that undermine the Constitution, adding that President Mahama had already made his position clear by shutting down discussions suggesting a third term.
“We at no point should ever encourage a situation where there is a disruption in our constitutional stipulations. The president has spoken about that and clearly he did well because he didn’t want to allow such conversations to continue as if he is entertaining it,” Kwetey said.
The NDC General Secretary further noted that though the party currently enjoys a strong parliamentary majority, it would not abuse that advantage to push through constitutional changes for personal or political gain.
“The party itself that has promised to ensure that we do what is right for the country has to ensure that, in this spirit of reset, even though we have such a huge majority in Parliament, we use it only to do what is good for the country and not try to change the Constitution because we are trying to make maybe one person happy,” he explained.
Kwetey reiterated the party’s unequivocal stance on the matter, stating “We stand behind the president and say that there will be no third term.”
