I stand by the constitutional term limit for presidents – Justice Dzamefe

Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has affirmed his unyielding support for the constitutional provision on presidential term limits, emphasizing his respect for what is clearly outlined in the 1992 Constitution.

Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, 2025, Justice Dzamefe was asked by Suame MP John Darko to share his views on Article 66(2) of the Constitution, which limits a person to two terms as President of the Republic of Ghana.

“Do you think this provision is subject to interpretation?” the MP asked.

In response, Justice Dzamefe stated: “Mr. Chairman, the honourable member referred to the constitution, and that is what the constitution says. So I can’t have anything against what is in the constitution.”

His remarks come amid growing political tension following allegations by Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who has claimed that President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are pursuing an agenda to secure a third presidential term.

In an interview on May 1, 2025, Afenyo-Markin pointed to the recent nomination of seven Justices to the Supreme Court as evidence of such a plan.

“It is obvious that the bold attempts by the president to nominate out of the blue, seven judges, to the Supreme Court are the first major attempt at all that they have rehearsed; a third-term agenda.

“All that the NDC is doing is through the advice of the hawks of NDC to set a third term agenda for its leadership,” he alleged.

President Mahama, on April 30, 2025, nominated seven Justices of the Court of Appeal for elevation to the Supreme Court. The move, in accordance with Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution, is intended to bolster the apex court with seasoned judicial expertise in the face of rising constitutional and governance challenges.

What is Article 66 (2) of the Constitution says

“A person shall not be qualified for election as the President of Ghana unless -(a) he is a citizen of Ghana by birth;(b) he has attained the age of forty years; and(c) he is a person who is otherwise qualified to be elected a Member of Parliament, except that the disqualifications set out in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of clause (2) of article 94 of this Constitution shall not be removed, in respect of any such person, by a presidential pardon or by the lapse of time as provided for in clause (5) of that article.