Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has argued that Ghana should retain its two-term presidential limit, insisting that the country does not need a system that allows one individual to remain in power for more than eight years.
Kpebu made the remarks during an interview with TV3’s Alfred Ocansey while discussing the legal suits asking the Supreme Court to interpret whether the constitutional limit covers consecutive terms or two terms in total.
He said Ghanaians were accustomed to expressing strong opinions about political leadership and should not be expected to accept prolonged rule by one person.
“Looking at us as Ghanaians, do we look like people who want to be ruled by one person for more than eight years when we all hold opinions that we can also equally do the job?” he asked.
He described Ghana as a country of millions of people who believe they can lead, drawing a comparison with the way citizens express opinions about football.
“We are a land of 33 or 34 million presidents, just like the way we say in football. Ghana is a land of maybe about 34 million coaches,” he said.
Kpebu also cited the United Kingdom, where he said seven prime ministers had served within 10 years, as an example of a political system that allows leadership changes when the public is dissatisfied.
He argued that Ghana should focus on making leadership accountable rather than creating opportunities for one person to extend their time in office.
“We don’t look like a people who want to be ruled for a long time by one person,” he said.
