John Mahama sued by – Kenneth Kwabena Agyei Kuranchie

A Ghanaian citizen has filed a lawsuit against former president John Dramani Mahama over his attempt to run for a second term on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) platform.

In his lawsuit, Kenneth Kwabena Agyei Kuranchie asks the Supreme Court to bar the former president from running for the office of president or a political party in the future.

According to him, Article 66 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that a candidate for a second term in the presidency must be the incumbent president, and former President Mahama is only running for reelection after serving as president for approximately 8 years.

He further pointed out that, in accordance with the constitution, a former president who wants to run for office again must first have parliamentary approval.

The Plaintiff in the suit also indicated a number of things he wants as reliefs:
He wants the court to order the former president to fully disclose to parliament, the terms of his engagement as a flagbearer of the NDC.

Mr. Agyei Kuranchie is also seeking that the Supreme Court directs the Speaker of Parliament to invoke and operationationalise Article 68 (2) of the 1992 Constitution which indicates that

[The President shall not, on leaving office as President, hold any office of profit or emolument, except with the permission of Parliament, in any establishment, either directly or indirectly, other than that of the State].

The plaintiff is also asking the court to force former presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama to make all engagements with the parliament that have nothing to do with the affairs of the State of Ghana available to them.

Additionally, he requests that the court force Mr. Mahama to drop his bid for the presidency or, failing that, to seek legislative confirmation for his appointment as the NDC’s flagbearer.

Meanwhile, Article 66 (1) of the 1992 Constitution says;

(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.

Article 68 (2) of the 1992 Constitution says;

(2) The President shall not, on leaving office as President, hold any office of profit or emolument, except with the permission of Parliament, in any establishment, either directly or indirectly, other than that of the State.

Source: Mynewsghana.com