Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, has once again dismissed claims that President John Dramani Mahama intends to seek a third term in office.
The Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications described President John Mahama’s third-term talk as needless speculation and an absurd fantasy.
Speaking on the Face to Face programme on Channel One TV on Tuesday, December 9, Kwakye Ofosu explained, “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.”
“So NPP should stop wasting their time and everybody’s time, and purporting to be angry. It’s an absurd fantasy they’re getting themselves into. The President has not expressed any intent. Any talk about it is a complete waste of everybody’s time,” he added.
However, President John Dramani Mahama has already made a bold declaration that he will 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 by-passing 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.
John Mahama’s declaration was meant to put an end to the growing speculation that he may seek another term in 2028.
Meanwhile, Kwame Asare Obeng, commonly known as Kwame A-Plus, the member of parliament for Gomoa Central, has bemoaned that he could not wrap his head around President John Dramani Mahama’s declaration that he has no intention of running for a third term in office.
The Gomoa MP argued that countries like China or the UAE would not have achieved massive development if they held elections as frequently as Ghana.
He further highlighted that the Western World developed its countries before introducing democracy.
Speaking during an interview, the Gomoa Central MP explained, “I don’t even understand why Mahama said he wouldn’t contest for a third term. Why do we always vote for four years? Do you think China would have developed if elections were held every four years? People would just sit on social media writing long posts about the constitution and other issues. Do you think the UAE would be doing so well if elections were held every four years?” he asked.
He highlighted that one of Africa’s biggest challenges is how democracy is practised, saying, “The biggest problem in Africa is the kind of democracy we practice. Democracy is about consensus-building, and as long as we can reach consensus, that’s democracy.
All the Ahsanti say their King is the Otumfuo, that is democracy. If we can’t reach a consensus, then we put it to a vote. Look at the amount of money spent on voting then vetting, the white man knows what they are doing to the black man, not to develop.
The white people developed their country before introducing democracy. After their country was on autopilot, that is when they started democracy,” he said.