Mahama has made his position on third term very clear – Edudzi Tameklo

Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has reiterated that President John Dramani Mahama has firmly closed the door on any possibility of seeking a third term in office.

According to him, the President has communicated his stance clearly and will not be swayed by calls from within the party or external pressures.

Speaking on Key Points on TV3 on January 3, which was monitored closely, Edudzi Tameklo explained that President Mahama acted early to prevent unnecessary speculation and ensure that internal party discussions remain focused on governance and national priorities.

“The leader has already put out his position on the matter. He is not a flip flopper, his yes is yes, and his no is no. He realised that people would raise this issue, so he moved early to stop the clamouring,” he said.

Edudzi Tameklo emphasised that the President’s early clarification was a strategic move to avoid divisions within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and to stop debates that could distract from the party’s governance agenda. He highlighted that once President Mahama makes a decision, he stands by it, demonstrating consistency and political maturity.

The statement comes after General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, criticised party members calling on President Mahama to pursue a third term. Speaking at the 44th Anniversary celebration of the 31st December Revolution on Wednesday, December 31, Kwetey condemned what he described as sycophancy within the party.

“It saddens me when I see so much sycophancy creeping into our party. Some people believe singing the praises of a leader is the only way they can survive politically. That is why you hear calls for a so-called third term. It is nothing but pure sycophancy and bootlicking of the highest order,” he said.

Kwetey argued that such demands betray loyalty to the party and the country, noting that the late former President Jerry John Rawlings was never pressured into seeking a third term despite his influence. He urged party members to prioritise principles, unity, and national interest over personal ambition.

Meanwhile, Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has warned that a third-term bid for President Mahama would be extremely unpopular in Ghana and could cause serious political damage. Speaking on Key Points, he noted that while discussions continue among some NDC members, pursuing a third term could hurt the President’s legacy and public standing.

“That debate for the third term is not over in the NDC. Some people say if there is a pathway, they will take it,” Bentil said.
“It will cause him a lot of collateral damage. A third term is extremely unpopular,” he added.

The statements from Edudzi Tameklo, Kwetey, and Bentil collectively reaffirm that President Mahama’s position is firm, ending speculation about a third-term ambition and redirecting attention to governance, party discipline, and national priorities.