Majority of Ghanaians Endorse Mahama’s Two-Term Exit as Poll Reaffirms Support for Constitutional Limits: What You Need to Know

A nationwide Global InfoAnalytics survey finds broad public backing for President John Mahama’s pledge not to pursue a third term, reinforcing confidence in Ghana’s constitutional order even as a sizeable minority says it would support calls for him to stay longer.

A decisive majority of Ghanaians have thrown their weight behind President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to leave office after serving the constitutionally mandated two terms, according to a new nationwide opinion survey by Global InfoAnalytics.

The poll, released on Monday, shows that 65 percent of respondents approve of the President’s decision not to seek a third term, while 27 percent oppose that position. The remaining 8 percent said they had no opinion, underscoring broad public endorsement of Ghana’s constitutional term-limit framework.

The findings arrive at a time when public discussions have occasionally resurfaced over whether President Mahama should be encouraged to extend his tenure beyond the limits set by the 1992 Constitution. However, the survey suggests that the electorate remains firmly inclined toward preserving the country’s long-standing democratic tradition.

When respondents were asked specifically about calls by some supporters for Mahama to contest a third term, 50 percent rejected the idea, compared with 40 percent who said they would support such a move. Another 10 percent were undecided.

The contrast between the two findings paints a nuanced picture of public opinion. While many voters express personal confidence in President Mahama’s leadership, a larger majority appears equally committed to the principle that constitutional term limits should remain inviolable.

Global InfoAnalytics conducted the survey between July 15 and July 24, 2026, using computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Of the 9,242 registered voters initially selected from the Electoral Commission’s 2024 voters’ register, 7,761 completed the survey, representing an 84 percent response rate.

The research covered all 16 regions of Ghana through probability random sampling with regional quota controls. According to the polling firm, the study carries a 99 percent confidence level with a margin of error of ±1.5 percentage points.

The poll also marks the beginning of a longitudinal tracking programme, under which the same respondents will be interviewed every two months to monitor shifts in public sentiment. Global InfoAnalytics said this approach differs from its quarterly national polls, which typically combine online, face-to-face and constituency-based sampling.

The results are expected to fuel fresh debate on constitutional governance and presidential succession at a time when several African countries continue to grapple with controversies over extending presidential mandates.

Ghana’s 1992 Constitution limits presidents to two four-year terms, a provision widely credited with underpinning the country’s democratic stability and peaceful transfers of power since the start of the Fourth Republic in 1993.

President Mahama has repeatedly maintained that he has no intention of seeking a third term, insisting that his administration remains committed to respecting the Constitution and strengthening Ghana’s democratic institutions.