John Dramani Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that he is ready to wrestle power from President Akufo-Addo in the 2020 presidential elections.
Mr. Mahama disclosed this while addressing journalists and his supporters yesterday at the Pavilion ‘A’ of the La Trade Fair Centre in Accra few hours after filing his nomination for the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential primary.
Speaking to his supporters, ex-President Mahama said, “I am very ready and I know you are ready too. Together, we are ready to work hard to provide jobs for our youth”.
He lambasted the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for imposing economic hardships on Ghanaians nationwide.
He stressed that “my brothers and sisters, when my party chooses me in the upcoming flagbearer elections, the road to a better Ghana will gain fresh momentum.”
In keeping with the NDC’s slogan of ‘never say die until the bones are rotten,’ the former president clearly demonstrated his resolve to make a comeback.
“I promise you that I will serve you better than I have ever done before; I am ready for the battle; come along with me.”
Cancellation of Double Track
He reiterated his commitment to abolish the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy of the Akufo-Addo administration if given the nod.
“I will also work hard to abolish the double-track system in the shortest possible time,” noting that his administration shall invest massively in the educational system by constructing more school blocks and completing the 200 Community Day Senior High schools”.
Interestingly, Mr. Mahama failed to build all the 200 Community Day schools he had promised from January 7, 2013 to January 7, 2017.
He only managed to complete 42 schools, including 23 sponsored by the World Bank.
The ex-president reiterated his commitment to provide quality education to all Ghanaians.
“Every child in Ghana is entitled to education that adequately prepares them for the challenges that lies ahead in the global world and that increased access should be matched by increased quality,” he stated.
The former president also accused the government of haphazardly implementing the Free SHS policy.
Broad Consultations
Touching on his decision to contest again, he said he had widely consulted key personalities in Ghana such as chiefs, business leaders, academicians, ordinary Ghanaians, who highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of his previous administration.
He disclosed that he consulted the various stakeholders in seven regions, namely Brong Ahafo, Upper West, Upper East, Greater Accra, Central, Ashanti and Northern.
He disclosed plans to further consult chiefs, business leaders and other key stakeholders in the Western, Volta and Eastern regions in the coming weeks.
He vowed to right the “wrongs of 2016,” by jealously protecting the electoral system in 2020, saying “he shall place emphasis on vigilance on all forms of electoral manipulations of our opponents.”
Lessons Learnt
Sounding more remorseful for the “wrongs” of his administration which forced Ghanaians to vote NDC out of power in a humiliating fashion, Mr. Mahama said “we have learnt our lessons and we promise Ghanaians we will do even better”.
He accused the NPP administration of making a plethora of empty promises which it cannot fulfill to the Ghanaian people.
Mr. Mahama vowed not to choose such a plan in winning the support of Ghanaians in 2020 elections, saying “but I will not engage in empty promises.”
Admitting that he somewhat abandoned the party’s structures for the 2016 campaign, Mr. Mahama observed that going into 2020, he would use the structures of the NDC and that he shall work closely with the party’s leadership.
Honesty
According to him, “I may not always say what Ghanaians want to hear, but I will always speak the truth.”
Criticizing the current Akufo-Addo administration for constantly peddling falsehoods to the masses on purported economic challenges facing the country, Mr. Mahama observed that “every government faces challenges and the best way to deal with these challenges is to be honest and truthful to the citizens of your nation.”
He was of the view that government must be honest and truthful to the citizens to make them understand the challenges facing the country in order to gain their support.
According to him, the foundation of the Ghanaian economy was crumbling under the NPP’s administration, saying that Akufo-Addo, who has “hijacked” his projects, was either commissioning or re-commissioning them.
By Melvin Tarlue