Adom-Otchere details why Ghana must not elect a one-term president

Broadcast journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere, has cautioned young Ghanaians against electing a one-term president, arguing that such a decision inevitably triggers early succession battles and distracts government officials from delivering on their mandate.

Speaking on Good Evening Ghana, on June 17, 2026, Adom-Otchere said voters should avoid electing leaders who are constitutionally barred from seeking another term because they have little political incentive to remain accountable to the electorate.

"Don't elect a one-term president. If you do that, you don't have a receipt. He has promised you something, but he's not coming back to you," he said.

According to him, once a president is serving a final term, attention within the governing party quickly shifts from governance to the race to succeed the leader.

"The problem we are having is that we have elected a one-term president for a four-year term. Once you elect a one-term president, this is what you're going to have," he indicated.

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Adom-Otchere argued that internal competition for succession is inevitable under such circumstances, as ministers and party figures begin positioning themselves for future leadership.

He maintained that presidents seeking a second term are generally better placed to keep their appointees focused on governance because potential successors are less likely to launch early campaigns.

He said the situation currently unfolding in Ghana mirrors political experiences elsewhere, insisting that early succession manoeuvring is a natural consequence of electing a one-term president.

Adom-Otchere was responding to comments by veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr on Good Morning Africa on PanAfrican TV, where he lamented that some government machinery was not functioning effectively because certain appointees had already started campaigning to succeed President John Dramani Mahama.

Adom-Otchere, however, argued that such developments are an inevitable consequence of having a one-term president.

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