The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has indicated his readiness to file a lawsuit challenging the eligibility of former President John Mahama in contesting the 2020 elections.
According to him, the 1992 constitution proscribes a person holding office as President of Ghana for more than two terms, and hence Mr Mahama’s bid for the Presidency in the upcoming elections is contestable by law.
His decision to prevent the former president from contesting is on the basis of article 66 of the 1992 constitution which states: (1) A person elected as President shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President. (2) A person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.
Popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is of the view the former president in serving the unexpired term of late President John Evans Atta-Mills in 2012 represented his first term and subsequently winning the 2012 elections became the second term prescribed by the constitution, therefore seeking for another term amounts to a breach of the constitution.
Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 Fm, he argued that, the latter has already served two terms hence his decision to go to court to seek interpretation of article 66.
He wants the supreme court to declare John Mahama ineligible to contest the presidential seat in 2020.
“It will be a clear violation of article 66 for the former president to contest in 2020, because he has already served his term and the constitution is clear on that. He is a former president of the republic who has served two terms so I don’t really know why he should stand for the same office again whiles the constitution has stated that all presidents have a period of two terms” he said.
He’s however hopeful that by going to the Supreme Court, John Mahama will be prevented from violating the 1992 constitution.
–
kasapa fm
