‘Mahama third-term’ narratives: The Constitutional route to amend an entrenched clause 

Researched by Gifty Danso

Ghana’s democracy has been an exemplary model in a sub-region beset with political and electoral challenges. Narratives around a possible third-term bid have emerged, for the first time since 1992, only one year into President John Dramani Mahama’s final term in office. 

Ghana’s 1992 Constitution allows for only two terms of four years for an elected President. This provision is part of entrenched clauses in the Constitution. Amending such clauses requires strict thresholds, among others the passage of a referendum. 

Beyond the social and traditional media conversations around the issue, Members of Parliament have also waded in on the floor of the House. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga in his concluding remarks before Parliament rose in December 2025 referenced third-term sentiments online. 

“I read on social media, I listen to conversations and Ghanaians believe that as a result of the good deeds of John Dramani Mahama, they don’t want him to leave the presidency, and they believe a third-term is possible,” he said. 

Gomoa Central MP, Kwame Asare Obeng, known as A Plus, an independent lawmaker who aligns with the Majority Caucus in Parliament, said in a recent interview that they would have to test the law on the possibilities of a third-term if the need be. “Personally, if John Mahama can legally contest for a third term, I don’t have a problem. We’ll have to test the law… There are so many ways of testing the law,” he said in the interview on GHOne TV. 

These third-term sentiments have also largely appeared on social media. On Facebook and X, posts here, here, here, here and here have indulged in the third-term conversations. 

History of presidential term under the 1992 Constitution
President	Term in office	Remarks
Jerry John Rawlings	1993 – 2001	Two consecutive terms
John Agyekum Kufuor	2001 – 2009	Two consecutive terms
John Evans Atta Mills	2009 – 2012	Term truncated after death
John Dramani Mahama	2013 – 2017	First term, lost reelection bid
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo	2017 – 2025	Two consecutive terms
John Dramani Mahama	2025 – 2029	Second and final term

Till date, none of the four former presidents mooted the idea of a third term at any time during their respective presidencies. In the case of John Mahama, he has also shot down the possibility as has the NDC (here, here). 

“I will not be a candidate in the next elections and therefore I can hold the line when it comes to fiscal discipline,” President Mahama said during a state visit to Singapore in August 2025.

The constitutional route to a third term 

Ghana’s 1992 constitution already makes it clear in Article 66 that “a person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.”

Article 290 classifies the 66th provision as an entrenched clause, and entrenched clauses can only be amended after a referendum has been passed. 

According to the constitution, 

1. A bill for the amendment of an entrenched provision shall, before Parliament proceeds to consider it, be referred by the Speaker to the Council of State for its advice and the Council of State shall render advice on the bill within 30 days after receiving it.

2. The bill shall be published in the Gazette but shall not be introduced into Parliament until the expiry of six months after the publication in the Gazette under this clause. 

3. After the bill has been read the first time in Parliament it shall not be proceeded with further unless it has been submitted to a referendum held throughout Ghana and at least forty percent of the persons entitled to vote, voted at the referendum and at least seventy-five percent of the persons who voted cast their votes in favour of the passing of the bill. 

4. Where the bill is approved at the referendum, Parliament shall pass it. 

5. Where a bill for the amendment of an entrenched provision has been passed by Parliament in accordance with this article, the President shall assent to it. 

2025 CRC on extension of term length, silent on term limits

The 2025 Constitutional Review Committee report presented to President John Mahama at the end of December 2025, makes no mention of a third-term. The only mention of presidential term limits relates to the extension of the presidential term from four to five. 

More recently, in January 2026, the leader of the Minority in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin reignited the narratives, saying that a third-term is not possible.

“We’re aware that Mr President himself says he is not interested in the third-term agenda. But we take this opportunity to also mention to Mr President that we’re aware many of your party members want to push that agenda. 

“Please tell them one more time, maybe when you said so in Singapore, they didn’t hear you. Mr President, you haven’t spoken about your non-interest in third-term in Ghana. Please tell your people that you’re not interested at all… and by the way, it is not possible,” he said. 

His comment came weeks after the government spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, speaking on Channel One TV on December 9, said: “The NPP have whipped itself into needless frenzy. President Mahama has stated emphatically that he will respect the Ghanaian Constitution. Because he’s a consummate democrat, so there’s no third term anywhere for him or any other person as far as the constitution is concerned.

“Anyone can say what they want. The fact that some people have gone on Facebook to say he should go for a third term doesn’t mean that will happen. The man himself has said he’s not interested,” he added.

Conclusion

For now, Ghana’s constitution does not support a presidential third-term. It, however, spells out the elaborate process through which an amendment can be pursued to increase and or remove term limits.