John Mahama speaking at the Unity Walk
Following former President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge at the last Unity walk in the Volta Region that the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will prioritise development in that region, some party executives have aptly replied him.
“Former President Mahama must remember that we are not forgetful that he gave similar promises during the previous campaigns in 2012 and 2016, which never materialised.”
Wisdom Kukubor, NDC Communication Officer in the Ketu South Constituency who was speaking at a news conference in Denu said the former President must explain what led to their failure to fulfill the earlier promises before making fresh ones.
Flanked by other executives, including Christopher Mensah, a branch Chairman, Mr. Kukubor said, the promise was just a ploy by the former President to win the support of Voltarians ahead of his declaration to run for the flagbearership again.
“The people of this great region, who are a proud backbone of the NDC largely boycotted the 2016 election because of the betrayals suffered under the previous administration. Among the many painful memories, we remember how Mr Mahama had in 2012 promised to fix our roads and secured our votes for it, and yet did nothing after he became President.
“We remember how in 2016, when he realised that he could lose the election, he sent his brother, Ibrahim Mahama to heap gravel on the Toshiba-Dafienu road at the last hour to fool us.
“As he would find out later, the people of the Volta Region were not fooled at all, which is why they largely refused to turn up to vote at the polls,” Mr. Kukubor said.
He added that the people of the Volta Region had not lost hope in the NDC, but in the former president; and his promise to prioritise Volta in his next term was an admission that he failed Volta when he had the opportunity to rule the country.
“If you admit that you failed us when you had the opportunity, then why don’t you make way for someone else to come?” Wisdom Kukubor asked.
He said the promise by President Mahama was quite an affront to the intelligence of Voltarians and urged members of the NDC in the region to rethink before selecting the next Presidential candidate.
According to the Communications officer, other candidates like the Second Deputy Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, who has made it plain that he would make the party the pivot to his administration if elected could be the best alternative.
On his part, Christopher Mensah said it was regrettable that the NDC lost power in the 2016 general election, but blamed it on the former President who alienated true party members.
“We remember how President Mahama, after ignoring our calls for development in Volta, later came around to show us videos of other places, especially the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions where he had built a lot of infrastructure for the people.
“We are shocked, that he admitted today that Voltarians are also Ghanaians who deserve development; but isn’t it interesting that he came to that grand realisation only after he led us into opposition?”
GNA