Fifi Kwetey cautions against third term talk for Mahama

General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has criticised party members he describes as sycophants pushing calls for a third term for President John Mahama.

Kwetey voiced concern about what he sees as growing praise-singing within the party, warning that such behaviour undermines its founding values.

During remarks at the commemoration of the 31st December Movement on Wednesday, he said some individuals believe survival in the party depends on flattering the president.

“So these days it saddens me when I see so much sycophancy creeping into our party,” Kwetey said. “I see a group of people who obviously, from every indication, they believe that singing the praises of a leader is the only way they can survive.”

He argued that this mindset explains why some voices have begun floating the idea of a third term for President Mahama, a proposal he dismissed outright.

“That’s why you hear some of those people even urging statements like there should be a third term,” he said. “It’s just nothing but sycophancy. Pure sycophancy and bootlicking of the highest order.”

Drawing a comparison with the party’s founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings, Kwetey stressed that individual ambition should never override party principles.

“Jerry Rawlings, who was the founder of this party, never at any point was urged by anybody to go for any third term,” he noted.

He accused those pushing the idea of acting out of self-interest rather than commitment to Ghana or the NDC.

“You have a bunch of sycophants who today think that all they need to do is to sing praises and hoping that somehow those praises will get them some opportunities,” Kwetey said. “You don’t love our country. You don’t love our party.”

Kwetey reminded party members of the NDC’s ideological roots, emphasising collective responsibility over loyalty to individuals.

“This party was grounded on the need to work for our people,” he said, invoking the movement’s famous refrain: “Cadres may go, cadres may come, but the revolution has come to stay.”

“That simply means it is not about individuals. It’s about us as a collective, ensuring that what is right must be done,” he added, urging members to place national and party interests above personal gain.

President John Mahama himself has not expressed interest in running for a third term and has stated publicly that he will not seek one.

However, the debate has lingered within political circles, especially after Majority Leader in Parliament Mahama Ayariga declined to rule out the possibility, arguing that “Ghanaians want the president to run again.”

Kwetey’s comments signal a firm pushback from the party’s leadership against any such agitation.