The Minority Caucus in Parliament is alleging that President John Mahama may be laying the groundwork for a controversial and unconstitutional third-term bid.
In a statement titled โA Stand in Solidarity with Political Parties Ahead of May 5th Demonstration to Defend Ghanaโs Democracy,โ the Minority did not mince words.
It accused the executive of orchestrating a grand scheme to undermine democratic institutions and manipulate constitutional provisions to benefit President Mahama, who is currently serving his second non-consecutive term.
โBe it an attempt to create an environment to conveniently reinterpret Article 66(2) of the Constitutionโto pave the way for a third-term presidential bid by former President John Mahamaโsuch orchestrations are a clear abuse of the power and trust the people of Ghana place in the hands of the executive,โ the statement read.
The allegation is at the heart of a nationwide demonstration scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025, to be led by an unlikely coalition of political parties, including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), the National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Peopleโs National Party (PNP).
Their common goal: defend Ghanaโs democracy from what they say is a coordinated assault on its constitutional foundation.
According to the Minority, the signs of democratic backsliding are undeniable.
They point to the โunlawful suspension of Ghanaโs Chief Justiceโ and โpolitically motivated termination of appointments of public servantsโ as evidence of an executive power grab intended to clear the path for Mahamaโs third-term ambitions.
The statement warned that Ghana could be heading toward a full-blown constitutional crisis, stating, โThese actions, if allowed to proceed, risk plunging Ghana into a crisis of legitimacy.โ
The Minority Caucus contends that judicial intimidation is becoming a tool of executive convenience.
โThe blatant disregard for legal processes and the growing trend of judicial intimidation, as witnessed in the Chief Justiceโs suspension, represents a direct assault on the progress made in our legacy of democratic governance and rule of law,โ the statement added.
The Caucus also raised alarm over reports that the government is planning to remove the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her deputiesโanother move it interprets as a strategy to compromise the 2028 elections in advance.
The group condemned what it described as โthe injudicious motive of perceived affiliationsโ behind the mass termination of public servants, warning that the job losses are not only unjustified but are also sowing seeds of unrest among the youth.
โThis is not about partisanship. This is about principle. It is about preserving the rule of law, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, and protecting the constitutional fabric of our beloved nation,โ the statement said.
The Minorityโs rallying cry comes as political tensions mount across the country. They called on โevery citizen who cherishes democracyโ to join Mondayโs protest in what they describe as a defining moment in Ghanaโs democratic history.
โWe must rise in unity and resolve, not as spectators, but as defenders of the Republic. The time to act is now,โ it concluded.
Source | Myjoyonline
