Henry Nana Boakye Accuses Mahama of ‘Deceptive’ Stance on Presidential Term Limits

The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of adopting what he described as a “deceptive” position on the ongoing constitutional debate over presidential term limits.

According to Mr Boakye, although President Mahama has publicly stated that he has no intention of seeking more than two terms in office, his comments regarding a pending case before the Supreme Court leave open the possibility of a constitutional interpretation that could set a dangerous precedent.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, July 28, Mr Boakye criticised the President’s posture, saying:

“The posturing of President Mahama is very deceptive. President Mahama is trying to say, ‘As for me, I think two terms, two terms. I do not intend to seek. But whoever is going to the Supreme Court, as for that, I do not control the Supreme Court. So whatever interpretation they will put on that, I don’t care.'”

Mr Boakye maintained that there should be no controversy surrounding Article 66 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, arguing that its wording is clear and unambiguous.

He pointed to Article 66(2), which states that “a person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two times,” insisting that the provision makes no distinction between consecutive and non-consecutive terms.

The NPP National Organiser further alleged that efforts to seek an alternative interpretation from the Supreme Court are politically motivated.

“I am even surprised why we have this debate so popular at this time. There is a sinister motive,” he said, adding that “any application before the Supreme Court for a certain twisted, unwholesome and unhealthy interpretation on Article 66 is sponsored.”

Mr Boakye dismissed arguments that a president who serves non-consecutive terms could still be eligible to contest again, describing such reasoning as “weird” and “an absurdity.”

He argued that accepting such an interpretation would create a loophole that could allow one individual to alternate between serving in office and sitting out a term, thereby remaining eligible to return to power indefinitely.

According to him, such an outcome would undermine the spirit of Ghana’s constitutional term limits and pose a threat to the country’s democratic stability.

Mr Boakye also warned that any Supreme Court ruling endorsing such an interpretation could trigger political uncertainty.

“I will be very sad, and Ghana will be thrown into a state of turmoil if any strange interpretation is put on this article,” he cautioned.