President John Dramani Mahama says his decision not to contest in 2028 puts him in a better position to enforce fiscal discipline and prevent election-year overspending.
President Mahama has reaffirmed his adherence to Ghana’s two-term presidential limit, stating that his absence from the 2028 ballot will put him in a stronger position to enforce fiscal discipline and curb the perennial election-year overspending that has fuelled cyclical economic crises.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on a three-day state visit, President Mahama decried the practice of incumbent governments circumventing fiscal safeguards to curry favour with voters.
He pledged to hold the line in the run-up to the 2028 polls, stressing: “I will not be a candidate in the next elections and therefore I can hold the line when it comes to fiscal discipline.”
He also highlighted the gains his administration has recorded since his return to office following a landslide victory in the 2024 elections, citing rapid declines in inflation and interest rates, as well as a significant appreciation of the cedi.
Mahama’s remarks contradict claims by members of the opposition New Patriotic Party that he intends to seek a third term after his current and final tenure.
The bilateral talks in Singapore focused on economic cooperation and investment.
