Afenyo-Markin Alleges Mahama Is Pushed By NDC ‘Hawks’ To Chase Third Term

/ Afenyo-Markin Alleges Plan to Undermine Judiciary Independence

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has raised alarm over President John Mahama’s nomination of seven Court of Appeal judges to Ghana’s Supreme Court, labeling it a strategic move to secure a third term in office. 

Afenyo-Markin claims internal NDC forces are pressuring Mahama to pursue an
unconstitutional third term.

Speaking at a press conference at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Headquarters on Thursday, May 1, 2025, Afenyo-Markin warned that the nominations threaten judicial independence and the nation’s democratic balance.

Afenyo-Markin described the nominations as a deliberate effort to stack the Supreme Court with loyalists, setting the stage for Mahama’s alleged third-term ambitions. Here are three critical points from his address:

    👉 Threat to Judicial Independence: The sudden nomination of seven judges is seen as an attempt to fill the Supreme Court with NDC loyalists, compromising its impartiality.

    👉 Third-Term Agenda: Afenyo-Markin claims the nominations are part of a broader National Democratic Congress (NDC) strategy to extend Mahama’s presidency beyond constitutional limits.

    👉 Risk of Retaliatory Politics: The Minority Leader cautioned that such actions could foster a cycle of political retribution, diverting focus from national development.

Afenyo-Markin argued that the nominations are not routine but a “well-rehearsed plan” orchestrated by “hawks within the NDC” to advance Mahama’s leadership ambitions. “Everything the NDC is doing, and everything our President is doing, is geared toward establishing a third-term agenda,” he stated. 

He emphasized that packing the Supreme Court with loyalists could undermine the judiciary’s role as a check on executive power, posing a significant risk to Ghana’s democracy.

READ ALSO:  Afenyo-Markin Accuses Mahama Of Judicial Overreach With Supreme Court Nominations

The Minority Leader urged the government to proceed cautiously, warning that its decisions will set precedents for future administrations. 

“This government must tread with the greatest caution, always keeping tomorrow in mind,” he said. 

He expressed concern that continuing down this path could create a culture of retaliatory politics, where successive governments prioritize settling scores over addressing pressing national issues.

Afenyo-Markin’s remarks have sparked intense debate, with critics of the NDC rallying behind his call for scrutiny of the nominations. As Ghana navigates this politically charged moment, the Minority Leader’s warning underscores the need for transparency and accountability in judicial appointments. The controversy is likely to dominate public discourse, with implications for the country’s democratic institutions and future elections.

Watch video below: 

President Mahama’s nomination of 7 Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court is a ploy to achieve his third-term agenda - Afenyo-Markin pic.twitter.com/bfdx0ULf6W

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) May 1, 2025

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