Ghana’s two-term presidential limit applies even after a break - Lawyer to Supreme Court

A lawyer has asked the Supreme Court to declare that Ghana’s constitutional two-term limit for presidents applies regardless of whether the terms are served consecutively or separated by a break.

The action, filed by private legal practitioner Derick Adu Gyamfi against the Attorney-General, seeks an interpretation of Article 66(2) of the 1992 Constitution on the maximum number of terms a person may serve as President of Ghana.

At the heart of the case is whether a person who has already served two terms as president can become eligible to contest for the office again after spending a period out of power.

The plaintiff wants the Supreme Court to declare that a person who has held office as President of the Republic of Ghana for two terms is not eligible for election to the office for another term.

He is also seeking a declaration that a person is barred from election as president after serving two terms, whether those terms were consecutive or separated by a break.

A further relief asks the court to affirm that the constitutional two-term maximum for a president does not have to be served consecutively.

The plaintiff is additionally seeking any other relief the Supreme Court may consider appropriate.

The action, dated July 14, 2026, names the Attorney-General as the defendant and was filed through Gurah Sampson @ Law, with Frederick Gurah Sampson Esq. as counsel.

The case places before the Supreme Court a potentially significant constitutional question on whether Ghana’s presidential term limit is an absolute lifetime ceiling of two terms or whether a break from office can affect a former president’s eligibility to contest again.