Former Chief of Staff and senior legal practitioner Nana Ato Dadzie has dismissed ongoing public discussions about the possibility of a third presidential term for President John Dramani Mahama, insisting that the country's Constitution clearly limits a president to two terms in office.

Speaking during the fourth edition of the "Time with a Politician" programme organised by the Department of Political Science of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Dadzie described the debate as unnecessary and distracting.

"I think the law is very clear. It's a two-term presidency," he stated.

According to him, while citizens in any democracy have the right to advocate constitutional changes, such changes must follow established legal and democratic procedures rather than being driven by speculation or political rhetoric.

Drawing comparisons with the United States, Dadzie noted that the American constitutional framework evolved through historical circumstances.



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He referenced former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four-term presidency during a period marked by the Great Depression and World War II, explaining that subsequent constitutional reforms later formalised presidential term limits.

"It is really the people who have to determine whether they want their president to do two terms or more. Of course, there are systems for dealing with such changes in the mindset of the people," he said.

However, he emphasised that under Ghana's current Constitution, the position remains unchanged.

"I can only speak for the Constitution as it stands today. That's what it is," he remarked.

Dadzie also urged political actors and commentators to avoid creating unnecessary controversy around the issue, arguing that national attention should instead be focused on governance and development.

"Look, this is a government that has big work to do. It is important to give space to the government and the President to do government business. Government business is about us and our development and it is necessary that we put some of these issues aside," he said.



Delivering remarks on behalf of the KAS Ghana Country Representative, Anna Lena Sabroso Wasserfall encouraged students to make the most of the platform by asking meaningful questions and learning from the experiences of accomplished leaders.

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She noted that Nana Ato Dadzie's journey from a law student at the University of Ghana to becoming Chief of Staff and serving in international peacebuilding assignments demonstrates the value of continuous learning, intellectual curiosity and relationship-building.

"The distance between being a student at Legon and becoming a person who has shaped major decisions in this country is not just hard work and good grades.

“It also takes the courage to ask questions, a willingness to keep learning and the patience to build trust and meaningful relationships over time," she said.

Wasserfall added that KAS remains committed to supporting the initiative because some of the most valuable lessons for young people are gained through direct interaction with experienced leaders rather than solely through classroom instruction.

AM/BAI

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