An online poll conducted by Asaase Radio has found that a significant majority of participants support retaining Ghana's existing two-term limit for presidents. The poll, which was conducted on the Asaase Radio website from 9am on Friday to 9am on Monday, September 21, gathered views from a substantial number of respondents. According to Wilberforce Asare, Head of the Legal and Political Desk at Asaase Radio, the poll results indicate strong support among participants for maintaining the current constitutional arrangement.
The poll results show that 81.25% of participants support retaining the two-term limit, while 18.75% would vote to abolish it in a referendum. On the question of whether respondents would vote for President John Dramani Mahama for a third term if the 1992 Constitution allowed presidents to serve more than two terms, 59.09% said they would not vote for him. In contrast, 36.36% said they would vote for him, and 4.55% were undecided.
The poll also explored respondents' views on a Supreme Court interpretation that the presidential two-term limit means each president can serve only two consecutive terms. A significant 75% of participants said they would agree with such an interpretation. However, 18.75% disagreed, while 6.25% were undecided. Asare emphasized that the poll results should be read as the views of the people who participated rather than as a representation of Ghanaian public opinion as a whole.
The Asaase Radio poll comes amid ongoing public and legal discussions about the interpretation of Ghana's constitutional provisions on presidential tenure. Asare noted that Ghana has operated under the 1992 Constitution for more than three decades and has had several presidents serve within the existing constitutional framework. The results indicate that participants are in favor of maintaining the status quo.
When asked if they would vote for Mahama if the courts interpreted the Constitution in a way that allowed him to contest a third term, 58.82% said they would not vote for him. In contrast, 35.29% said they would vote for him, and 5.88% were undecided. These results suggest that even if the Constitution were to be interpreted in a way that allows Mahama to contest a third term, a significant proportion of participants would still not vote for him.
Asare stressed that the poll was not a scientific national opinion survey and does not determine the meaning of the Constitution, which remains a matter for the appropriate constitutional and judicial processes. The poll results provide a snapshot of the views of people who participated and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ghanaian public as a whole.
The Asaase Radio poll results have significant implications for the ongoing debate about Ghana's presidential term limits. With 81.25% of participants supporting the retention of the two-term limit, the results suggest that there is strong public support for maintaining the current constitutional arrangement. Key points from the poll include:
Key points
- 81.25% of participants support retaining Ghana's two-term limit for presidents.
- 59.09% of respondents would not vote for President John Dramani Mahama for a third term if the Constitution allowed more than two terms.
- 75% of participants agree with a Supreme Court interpretation that the presidential two-term limit means each president can serve only two consecutive terms.
