Reports coming in suggest that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders, in a closed-door meeting, was pushing for President John Mahama to seek a third term in office.
According to the Herald reports, President John Dramani Mahama rejected the NDC elders’ push for a third term by reiterating his commitment to Ghana’s constitutional two-term limit.
Reports suggest the high-level meeting with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders occurred at the Flagstaff House on Friday, May 29, 2026, shortly before he departed for the United Kingdom (UK).
Parts of the Herald report read, “Sources familiar with the meeting said President Mahama used the occasion to put to rest persistent speculation about a possible third-term bid, a subject that has generated considerable debate within sections of the ruling party and the wider political landscape.
The Elders Council, chaired by Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu and attended by several veteran party figures, including some who have been associated with the party since the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military era, was convened primarily to address growing concerns over premature succession campaigns within the NDC.
According to sources, President Mahama firmly reiterated that he would not seek another presidential mandate beyond his current term, reinforcing remarks he first made during a state visit to Singapore last year.
The intervention comes amid increasing tensions within the governing party over succession politics, with reports suggesting that rivalry among supporters of various potential presidential aspirants has begun affecting constituency and regional party activities.
Notably, the meeting took place without the participation of the NDC’s General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, and National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, both of whom have publicly rejected calls for President Mahama to seek a third term”.
It will be recalled that President John Mahama in 2025 made a bold declaration that he would not be a candidate in Ghana’s next elections.
According to John Mahama, stepping aside in 2028 would give him the moral authority to hold the line when it comes to Ghana’s fiscal discipline in an election year.
Mahama, during a bilateral discussion with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, criticised the practice of incumbent governments bypassing fiscal safeguards to curry favour with voters, a cycle he will end.
“I will not be a candidate in the next elections, and therefore I can hold the line when it comes to fiscal discipline,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed a ban on all party members engaging in early presidential campaigns to succeed President John Mahama and focus on the Reset Agenda.
According to the NDC Council of Elders, the directive follows a meeting between them and President John Dramani Mahama.
The NDC Council of Elders noted that they have observed the premature presidential campaigns and related political activities by some individuals and groups within the party, adding that the party’s current focus should be supporting the government to deliver on its mandate and improve the lives of Ghanaians.
The Council stressed that the focus should be on the President Mahama Reset Agenda, highlighting that the time for internal contests will come.
In a statement issued on May 29, 2026, the NDC Council on May 29, 2026 read, “The Council wishes to remind all members that the NDC is currently focused on delivering on the mandate entrusted to it by the people of Ghana. At this critical stage of national reconstruction and renewal, every member of the Party is expected to devote his or her energies, resources, and commitment to supporting the Government’s efforts to reset the country and improve the lives of Ghanaians, rather than engaging in activities that have the potential to create division, distraction, or unnecessary internal competition”.
“The date and venue for the election of the Presidential Candidate shall be decided by the National Executive Committee (NEC), but that election shall take place at least twelve (12) months before a national election date if the Party is in power and at least twenty-four (24) months if the Party is not in power,” it stated.
“The Council emphasises that, until the appropriate constitutional processes have been initiated and the National Executive Committee has determined the timetable and guidelines for the conduct of presidential primaries, no individual, group, or interest bloc is authorised to undertake or promote any form of presidential campaign, whether directly or indirectly,” the statement noted.
“Accordingly, the Council of Elders directs all persons engaged in such activities to cease forthwith. These include all forms of campaigning, mobilisation, endorsements, publicity, or related activities intended to advance the presidential ambitions of any prospective candidate,” it said.
“The time for internal contests will come. For now, our collective responsibility is to serve the nation and successfully implement the mandate entrusted to us,” the statement added.
See the post below:
BREAKING: Mahama rejects third-term push at closed-door meeting with NDC elders pic.twitter.com/sLF31118me
— Ghana Chronicles (@_GhChronicles) June 3, 2026
