Former President John Dramani Mahama has made a tacit admission of defeat in the 2020 Presidential Election which he eventually challenged in court and lost, giving a hint that he is eager to give it another try in 2024.
He went to the Volta Region this week to solidarise with residents whose homes are being ravaged by tidal waves, and in the course of meeting them, he appeared to have laid bare his ambition to lead the country once again, after being booted out during the 2016 election.
Strong Support
“I want to take the opportunity through you, the people here, to thank all our brothers and sisters in the Volta Region for the strong support you showed for me in the 2020 polls,” Mr. Mahama who represents the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) said.
“You didn’t disappoint me at all, you did your part and you did your best. And, so, I want to thank you,” he said.
He continued that “let us not be disappointed and discouraged. They say he who fights and loses lives to fight another day.
“What we have to do is to focus on the party: selecting a flag bearer to lead us again and I’m sure by 2024, by the grace of God, NDC will come back into office.”
Muslims Call
During the 2021 Eid-ul-Adha celebration last month, Mr. Mahama tasked Muslims in his hometown Bole, in the Savannah Region, to pray for him, as he prepares to return to the contest once again.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Bole-Bamboi, Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, relayed the former President’s intentions on Bole-based Nkilgi FM during celebration, saying “former President John Dramani Mahama who is from Bole here (sic) has asked me to tell the good people of Bole-Bamboi Constituency that he has not forgotten of the good things they have done for him over the years and that Inshah Allah (God willing) he is likely to come back to contest elections in his party and so they should use this special Eid-ul-Adha day to thank God and to ask for good health, success and victory for him.”
He then said that Prophet Ibrahim was commanded by God to sacrifice his only son Ismael to Him, and that Ibrahim made an attempt; which is the highest form of obedience to God, and situated it to the political dispensation saying, “so former President Mahama entreats his Bole-Bamboi constituents to continue to be obedient to their creator, their parents, elders and also respect and love each other.”
On December 9, 2020, after the EC Boss declared incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo as winner to continue a second term, Mr. Mahama refused to accept the verdict and launched a legal challenge, claiming he rather won the election but was denied victory, after he and his party had amassed their supporters to hit the streets to cause mayhem.
However, by the time the case was being heard, the NDC’s stance that Mr. Mahama was denied victory had shifted to whether or not none of the 12 candidates that participated in the 2020 Presidential Election got the constitutionally mandatory 50 per cent plus one of the total valid votes.
A few hours after the petition was unanimously dismissed by the Supreme Court, Mr. Mahama refused to concede defeat, and rather launched blistering attacks on the judges, the President and some state institutions.
Ketu South MP
Mr. Mahama was in the Ketu South Constituency on the invitation of the NDC MP for the area, former actress Dzifa Gomashie.
Later Dzifa Gomashie posted on Facebook with a statement titled: “President Mahama and Volta Caucus in Parliament support Ketu South tidal waves victims.”
“Yesterday, President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC Members of Parliament from the Volta Region presented some items to the victims of the tidal waves. Accompanying the President were some Regional Executives and the Constituency Executives. Items presented include 1,000 bags of cement (500 was presented yesterday and the next 500 will be delivered later), 20 bundles of roofing sheets, 200 bags of water, 50 bags of rice to the victims and 50 bags of rice to the AGBATÈTSORLAO (Head Porters) in Aflao.”
She said “as the host MP, I invited the two former MP’s to join me receive the visitors. Both Albert Zigah and Fifi Fiavi Kwetey attended as well as the two former MCE’s Bernard Frank Amarble and Pascal Lamptey. The entourage was welcomed in my house by the Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area, Torgbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V, the Paramount Chief of Klikor, Togbe Ado and Togbe Nyatakpo Saba.”
Global Warming
She also said “the President and the team then went to the area in question and were received by the Paramount Chief and Makosor of the Somè Traditional Area, Togbe Adama and his people,” adding “President Mahama intimated that global warming is real and is affecting the world at large, hence the water levels rising and causing havoc in many countries.”
The MP said that the former President urged the government “to continue with the work started by the erstwhile NDC government to mitigate the impact of the tidal waves on the residents of these coastal communities,” adding “he expressed his appreciation to the people for the warm reception and used the opportunity to thank the people of the Volta Region for the support during the 2020 elections.”
Dzifa Gomashie said, “I was honoured to take him around to see some portions of the community hard hit by the tidal waves,” adding “on behalf of the people of Ketu South, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama, the Chairman of the VR Parliamentary Caucus, Bedzrah Emma Kwasi, the entire membership of the Caucus, the Regional Executives, Constituency Executives, the three Paramount Chiefs of Ketu South for a successful event.”
She then said “may I use this opportunity to urge the President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to as a matter of urgency, provide a convenient shelter for the people of Agavedzi, Salakope and Amutsinu who have endured the hardship brought on them due to the tidal waves.”
By Ernest Kofi Adu