President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to upholding Ghana’s fourth republican constitution’s term restriction for presidents.
The President acknowledged that two citizens had petitioned the Supreme Court to interpret Article 66(1) and (2), which states that “a person elected as President shall…hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in [and] shall not be elected to hold office, for more than two terms.”
President Mahama stated that his interpretation of the clause was clear during a citizen engagement at Ho on Friday as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Volta Region.
“The people of Ghana gave me a mandate for one additional term, and I remain fully committed to fulfilling the promises I made to them. Although some people have sought an interpretation from the Supreme Court regarding the constitutional provision on presidential tenure, my understanding is that the Constitution is clear,” the President reiterated.
“What I know is that the people of Ghana entrusted me with one additional term, and I will continue to work diligently to honour that trust.”
Mr. Mahama’s public response to allegations that he was planning a third term came after two people, a journalist named Ken Kuranchie and a teacher named Ganiwu Alhassan, filed petitions for interpretation before the Supreme Court.
President Mahama made the same statement in Singapore during a state visit last year, and this is the second time he has openly rejected any desire in a third term.
After holding office from January 7, 2013, to January 6, 2017, President Mahama is currently serving a second non-consecutive term.
In response to allegations of persecution by the opposition, the President stated that his government had no ill will toward anyone.
The President stated that a lot more work would have been done to prove wrongdoing before law enforcement officials targeted a specific individual.
“No individual will be prosecuted because of political vendetta. However, where evidence establishes wrongdoing, the law will take its course,” he emphasized.
“The same standard will apply to officials serving in my own administration. If any of our appointees abuse the public trust, they will be held equally accountable.”
The President stated that in order to prevent any such circumstance, he has continuously counselled his appointees to adhere to due process and to bring significant decisions to Cabinet if they had reservations so that accountability is shared equitably.
He pointed out that accountability decreases corruption, gets rid of waste, and frees up funds for the government to use for national development.
He reassured the populace that the government would spend resources wisely and sensibly for the nation’s advancement.
President Mahama claims that during his 1.5 years in power, the massive investments made under the Big Push initiative alone, more than GH¢40 billion, have mostly been funded by better domestic resource management rather than excessive borrowing.
“These investments have been possible because we have reduced waste and prioritised the effective use of public resources. That commitment to prudent management will remain the hallmark of this administration,” he assured.
Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, the president of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, praised President Mahama for allowing young people to hold positions as state ministers and praised the administration for its development initiatives.
Togbe Tepre Hodo promised that the region’s chiefs and populace would assist the government in carrying out development initiatives to raise people’s standard of living.
Source: newsthemegh.com