By Our Democracy News GH
ACCRA, Ghana -The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has petitioned the Supreme Court to interpret Ghana’s constitutional limit on presidential terms, seeking clarification on whether the restriction of two four-year terms applies to a person’s total time in office, regardless of whether the terms are consecutive.
In a writ filed against the Attorney-General and dated July 29, 2026, the party is asking the court to interpret Articles 58(2) and 66(1), (2) and (3)(a) of the 1992 Constitution to determine whether an individual may be elected President more than twice or serve for more than eight years in total.
The NPP is seeking a declaration that the two-term limit applies even when a president’s periods in office are separated by the tenure of another president.
The suit, filed through the party’s solicitor, Godfred Yeboah Dame of Dame & Partners, also asks the court to clarify the eligibility of a Vice-President who assumes the presidency for more than half of a predecessor’s unexpired term.
NPP seeks clarification on interrupted presidential terms
The party argues that a person who has already served one presidential term should be eligible to serve only one additional term, even if the two periods in office are not consecutive.
It contends that an interpretation restricting the two-term limit only to consecutive terms could allow a person to serve one term, lose an immediate re-election bid, and later return to the presidency for two additional terms.
According to the NPP, such an interpretation would effectively introduce the word “consecutive” into the Constitution, although that word does not appear in the relevant provisions.
The party argues that doing so would amount to altering the Constitution through judicial interpretation rather than applying its existing provisions.
Vice-President succession also under scrutiny
The NPP is also asking the Supreme Court to clarify the constitutional position of a Vice-President who assumes the presidency and serves for more than half of the remaining term of a predecessor.
The party argues that a person who assumes the presidency under those circumstances should be eligible to contest a presidential election for only one additional term.
The court’s interpretation is being sought to establish how the constitutional term limits should apply to individuals who ascend to the presidency through succession rather than being elected directly to begin a new presidential term.
NPP cites international examples and constitutional review report
In support of its arguments, the party refers to international examples, including the United States’ 22nd Amendment, which restricts the number of times a person may be elected President.
It also cites developments in other African countries to argue that attempts to alter presidential term limits can contribute to political instability.
The NPP further relies on the Constitution Review Commission’s 2011 report, which recommended an amendment to clarify that a person who had served two presidential terms would be ineligible for re-election.
The party wants the Supreme Court to determine the proper interpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions and establish how the two-term restriction applies to consecutive and non-consecutive periods in office.
The case places the interpretation of presidential term limits before Ghana’s highest court, with the eventual ruling expected to clarify the constitutional questions raised in the suit.
