‘Two terms is two terms’ - Maurice Ampaw warns SC over presidential term limit case

Lawyer Maurice Ampaw has urged the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional provision on presidential term limits, insisting that a president’s tenure must not go beyond two terms.

Speaking exclusively to GhanaWeb on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, he argued that the Constitution clearly sets a limit on the number of terms a person can serve as president, and the apex court must consider the interest of Ghanaians in interpreting any related cases before it.

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“The Constitution says that every president, no matter how good you are, your limit is two terms, and two terms is two terms,” Ampaw said.

He made the comment while reacting to suits filed at the Supreme Court seeking interpretation of the constitutional provisions on presidential term limits.

Ampaw said the judges must approach the matter without political considerations and focus on the purpose and intent behind the Constitution.

“The Supreme Court judges should know that for any issue of interpretation, they should look at it from the broader interest, beyond political lens. They should not put on political lens in interpreting the Constitution,” he stated.

He added that the court must consider the aspirations of ordinary Ghanaians rather than the interests of individual politicians when making its decision.

“They should look at the soul, spirit behind the Constitution, the purposeful approach to ensure that we interpret the Constitution to meet the aspiration of the ordinary Ghanaian,” he noted.

The lawyer said the ongoing cases before the Court, which seek clarity on whether a former president can seek another term after serving the constitutionally allowed limit, require careful consideration.

“Currently, as we speak right now, the issue before the Supreme Court, where some people are asking for third term, the Supreme Court must begin to look at the hope and aspiration of Ghanaians. Are Ghanaians ready to accept a president whose term is going to expire, to be given another third term?” he questioned.

Ampaw stressed that the Supreme Court has the responsibility to interpret the Constitution in a manner that protects the country’s democratic principles.

“The Supreme Court knows that the decision of the nation as it comes to whether there should be third term or not, whether the suit will succeed or not, the law is in their bosom, and the constitutional interpretation is in their bosom.

“They should ensure that when they're interpreting it, they have in mind, not the hopes and aspirations of a president, but rather the hopes and aspirations of the ordinary Ghanaian,” Ampaw said.

Background

Two individuals have filed separate suits at the Supreme Court seeking an interpretation of Article 66(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be elected as President of Ghana for more than two terms.

Supreme Court cannot change Ghana’s presidential term limits - Kennedy Osei Nyarko

The suits, filed by Ganiwu Alhassan, a teacher from Kpandai in the Northern Region, and Kenneth Kwabena Agyei Kuranchie, Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, are seeking clarity on whether the two-term limit only prevents a president from serving more than two consecutive terms or completely bars a person who has already served two terms from seeking the presidency again.

MAG/VPO

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