Since the inception of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the law spells out clearly the number of years a person elected as President can stay in office.
It is on the back of this that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party is challenging the eligibility of former President Mahama as he aims to contest the 2020 Presidential elections.
In an open letter addressed to Parliament, the Judiciary, former President Jerry Rawlings and copied to Peacefmonline.com, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako stated that per the explanations given in the 1992 Constitution, former President Mahama cannot represent the National Democratic Congress in any national election.
In reference to Article 66 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako explained that the state could not continue to spend money on all former Presidents only for “only one (John Mahama) to nicodemously sneak out and come and contest an election on a the ticket of a political party in 2020”.
Article 66 of the 1992 Constitution states that
(1) A person elected as President shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President.
(2) A person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.
(3) The office of President shall become vacant –
(a) on the expiration of the period specified in clause (1) of this article; or
(b) if the incumbent dies or resigns from office or ceases to hold office under article 69 of this Constitution.
(4) The President may, by writing signed by him, and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, resign from his office as President.
Dwelling on the above article, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako commented that since our constitution directs us on how to treat all former Presidents of which Mr. John Mahama is recognized., the privileges he enjoys cannot be halted.
He added that former President Mahama now belongs to the club of ex-Presidents and it would be wrong for the state not to care for him like it does for the others.
This convention, according to Chairman Wontumi, means that former President Mahama dreams of contesting the 2020 elections has been cut short.
“If article 66 (3b) makes it clear that ever since late former President Mills passed on to eternal glory, his predecessor completed his stipulated tenure for him. Mahama has completed his tenure and there is no way he can seek for another tenure in office.”
He called on Parliament and the Judiciary to explain to Ghanaians what 66 (3b) stands for and enusre former President Mahama doesn’t become a “bandit” in his quest to lead the NDC into the 2020 Presidential election.
“If former President Rawlings and others do not speak out now, it could prepare the grounds for future chaos. Mahama wants to be the unorthodox type of former President and create confusion for us”, Chairman Wontumi warned.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Look at that one too how many times did Mr mahama stand for presidential race you your self code from the constitution that no hard the right to contest more than twice for Ghana presidential race and mahama contest only one so what is your worried if you no your party is doing good Mr chairman relax and enjoy your day
AS A PRESIDENT HUH . THOSE DEFENDING COME AGAIN. BY THE WAY IS THERE NOT NO NOBLE AND DECENT CORRUPT FREE MAN LEFT IN NDC. MAHAMA HAS NO MIND OF HIS OWN .ENOUGH.
I think what the constitution says is about when a person is elected as president. In this case Mahama only contested one election and was elected. So in my opinion he is qualified to contest again.
Yes, Mahama can stand for elections , because he has contested and won only one election, this is no brainer, the wontumi idiotic guy is so scared of Mahama the mere mention of Mahama's name sends shivers down his spine
AH THAT'S IT, what is fear about testing our law? this man with all the money and state apparatus was beaten to the pulp and what shows this man can come back from opposition? when ndc tribal card will be used against them as it was used in the 2016? moy3 agyimifuo. you talk anyhow. You think it is easy for you to overturn the over 1 million with bobolibobo if Onaapo couldn't do you nothing how much more bobolibobo! tell us just one intervention that you brought to help the people for them to consider you? ndc behave like they never entered any classroom or is it tramadol that's destroying you? no serious political party will be defeated and humiliated this way and wouldn't take reflection of that to find where they went wrong and solve before the next election but will rather choose bobolibobo to dance of with their lowlife followers and think everything us fine with them to victory are you crazy? what us your campaign message to the people to win? do you think lies and propaganda will work? why didn't that work for you in 2016 with your green book? your leader is a drunkard who can't even think for himself and calls himself odwa*nfun so what will become of you, GHOST!
Mahama has been sworn in as president on two occasion his time is finish. common sense law.
What Mr.Wuntumi has raised is very important and it makes sense. Let us wait for the interpretations of laws of the land. The two terms of four years each given to each citizen to stand for the Presidential race is clear. Serving your country for even a day and for some medical or other tangible grounds you resigned, you will still enjoy whatever remuneration in place for ex-President. With late President Atta-Mills demise fresh in our mind. Any Vice-President can play a dirty/underground game to eliminate the seating president for him/her to assume/continue his former boss presidency term. Once any vice president assumes the position of the president even if he/she serves for even a day before the next presidential election is held… it means he/she has served his/her first term of 4 years… Our laws must make it clear that any ex-President standing for any Political party presidential slot Will ceased to enjoy any emolument entitled to him/her as ex- President from the day he/she makes known his/her intention to re-run for the Presidential race of the land so that our political environment will be clean.. any ex-president will think twice before throwing his/her weight around if ready to forfeit his/her retirement remuneration as ex-president. If civil servants are made to resign from any position they hold once they makes their intention to stand for any political party presidential race –same must be applied to all ex-president too. The presidential race must be on even playing grounds for all citizens who are willing to lead the nation
I think what Wuntumi has raised makes sense... let the laws of the land be put to test. If our own laws says each person is entitled to two terms so be it. Let say if after Prof.Mills demised.. Mahama to over even for 1 day has president of Ghana, it means he has served his term. Given a term (4 years) even one day served President is still an ex president.. When Dr.H.Liman was overthrown.. he was still considered ex.President and was entitled to whatever benefit at the time. Else any vice President can do "eliminate the seating President" and once he Assume office will say that was not his term of office. Technical/Truth speaking.. Ex.President JDM has served his 2 terms as stipulated by our constitution. He knew the clauses before he accepted to continued after late Prof.Mills.
Listen to Wuntumi. The man is talking sense. Mahatma completed the first term of NDC reigns before assuming office as president for the second term of four years. If he is given the mantle in 2020,would it be described as second or third term? Would he use the title former president or sitting president? Please, test the law so that this situation will not become political discourse in future.
in a matter mahama becomes the next president will he be receiving two salaries as the former and current. Ghanaians let's think about this