The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has reiterated the party’s position, dismissing claims of a third-term agenda for President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, December 16, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey highlighted that the NDC is committed to Ghana’s constitutional order and democratic principles.
The NDC General Secretary stated, “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”.
“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 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.
Also, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman, NDC, has issued a statement boldly declaring that the party will not sponsor, support or entertain any move to amend the presidential term limits for any individual, including President John Dramani Mahama.
The NDC statement comes on the heels of Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, sharing his opinion on the not ending talks surrounding the possibility of President John Dramani Mahama serving a third term in office.
In the statement signed by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the NDC unequivocally, categorically, and without ambiguity stated the NDC has no intention of using its Parliamentary Majority to pursue any amendment to the 1992 Constitution that seeks to extend or alter the two-term presidential limit.
The statement read, “The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken notice of recent public discussions following remarks attributed to the Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, concerning the possibility of constitutional amendment to allow H.E. John Dramani Mahama to contest for a third presidential term.
As National Chairman of the NDC, I wish to state unequivocally, categorically, and without ambiguity that the NDC has no intention, now or in the future, of mandating its Parliamentary Majority to pursue or support any amendment to the 1992 Constitution that seeks to extend or alter the two-term presidential limit.
The position of the NDC on this matter is firm and longstanding
- The NDC is fully committed to Ghana’s constitutional two-term limit, which has guided our democracy since 1992.
- It was the NDC that birthed and championed the 1992 Constitution, and it was under our leadership tha he presidential term was capped at two. This was done deliberately to safeguard national stability, preven he abuse of executive authority, and protect the integrity of our governance system
- Any attempt to remove or distort this important pillar of our constitutional architecture would be nothing short of dangerous. A third-term amendment will introduce needless tension, invite instability, and undermine the peace Ghana has enjoyed under the Fourth Republic, a peace built on a constitutional foundation laid by the NDC itself.
Let it therefore be made abundantly clear:
The NDC will not sponsor, support, entertain, or tolerate any move to amend the presidential term limits for any individual, including H.E. John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama has repeatedly demonstrated his respect for the Constitution and the democratic traditions of our nation. The party urges the public to disregard any rumours suggesting otherwise. Our focus remain n governance reforms, economic recovery, national unity, and strengthening democratic institutions, not tampering with term limits.
The NDC remains committed to protecting the very Constitution we authored, in the interest of Ghana’s continued peace, stability, and democratic progress”, the statement concluded.