The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has filed a writ at the Supreme Court seeking an interpretation of constitutional provisions governing presidential term limits in Ghana.
The suit, filed against the Attorney-General, asks the court to clarify the meaning of the constitutional limit of two terms for a person holding the office of President.
Among the declarations sought is whether the phrase “two terms” in Articles 58(2), 66(1), 66(2) and 66(3)(a) of the 1992 Constitution means a maximum of two terms, regardless of whether they are served consecutively or non-consecutively.
The party is also asking the court to determine whether a person can be elected President more than twice and whether the maximum period a person may serve as President is eight years, based on two four-year terms.
Another issue raised in the writ concerns a Vice-President who assumes the office of President for more than half of the unexpired term of a predecessor.
The NPP is seeking a declaration on whether such a person would be eligible to contest a presidential election for only one additional term, whether in an election held before the end of the unexpired term or in a subsequent election.
The suit further asks the court to clarify whether a person who has previously served one term as President can be eligible to serve for only one more term.
The case places the interpretation of Ghana’s constitutional provisions on presidential tenure before the Supreme Court for determination.
The writ lists the NPP, with its address at Asylum Down, Accra, as the plaintiff and the Attorney-General as the defendant.
