John Mahama
After spending a little over eleven weeks on a fact-finding mission in Ghana recently, I have come to the realisation that Mahama and his NDC may well spend at least sixteen years in opposition, given the well-received projects and the encouraging economic performance by the Akufo-Addo administration.
Take, for example, more recently, a Nigerian scholar who gave a presentation at the NDC’s most recent forum emphasised Ghana’s thriving economic growth under the Akufo-Addo’s government.
It also came as no surprise at all when the reputable Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reported last year that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will retain power in the 2020 general elections (see: ‘2020 election is yours to lose-EIU predicts NPP victory’; myjoyonline.com/ghanaweb.com, 15/09/2019).
It was also not far-fetched for the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to conclude in its country report last year that former President John Dramani Mahama will find it extremely difficult to convince discerning Ghanaians into accepting that he is the preferable custodian of Ghana’s economy, given the country’s fairly strong economic growth under President Akufo-Addo.
Of course, some of us really appreciate discerning Ghanaians uneasy anticipation over Mahama’s desperate attempt to reclaim the Presidency, unlike the NDC loyalists, many of whom aren’t ready to appreciate the excellent economic performance of the NPP government, unfortunately, seem oblivious to the apocalypse of Mahama returning to the Jubilee House.
Let us face the fact; it would be extremely catastrophic if Mahama was to reclaim the presidency, given the calamitous errors in judgement which led to the massive economic meltdown.
Tell me, my dearest reader, isn’t it quite ironic that despite the harsh economic conditions amidst the innumerable corruption allegations (bus branding, Brazil World Cup, SADA, SUBA, GYEEDA, SSNIT, NCA, Ford Expedition Vehicle, amongst others), which led to his 2016 humiliating election defeat, Ex-President Mahama can still muster the courage to stage a comeback?
Well, why wouldn’t discerning Ghanaians dread and emit grave concerns over the return of a former president who has more alleged bribery and corruption scandals hanging around his neck than any other president in the history of Ghanaian politics?
Let us be honest, though, no true nationalist will ever shrill and thrill over the return of a former president who has serious questions to answer over the puzzling corruption scandals such as the STX housing deal, the Brazilian aircrafts, the Ford Expedition vehicle and the Armajaro saga.
Take, for instance, sometime last year, we heard and read that four courageous Ghanaians had petitioned the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, to probe into the alleged E.O. Group’s $13 million corporate social responsibility fund towards the development of the Western Region which the petitioners claimed to have been diverted by Ex-President Mahama (see: ‘Mahama diverted $13m E.O. Group money; probe him – Four citizens petition Amidu’-todaygh.com/ghanaweb.com, 18/06/2018).
Dearest reader, why wouldn’t patriotic Ghanaians panic over the return of a former president who can boldly accept a furtive gift of a brand new Ford Expedition vehicle worth over $100,000 from a Burkinabe contractor called Djibril Kanazoe?
I vividly recall how sometime last year the good people of Ghana were greeted by yet another chilling news of corruption scandal in the erstwhile Mahama administration. On that occasion, it was an alleged oil money of GH¢40.5 million secret transfers to the Presidency via the then Chief of Staff (see: ‘Group explains why Amidu must probe Mahama, Debrah in GH¢40.5m BOST payment’; myjoyonline.com/ghanaweb.com, 19/09/2018).
It beggars belief that despite the wanton corruption, the arrogance of power and the crass incompetence exhibited by the erstwhile Mahama administration which resulted in massive economic collapse, the NDC faithful could still muster the courage to chastise Akufo-Addo and clamour inexorably for the return of former President Mahama.
Given the illimitable rot in the Mahama administration, some of us cannot help but to giggle over the NDC’s faithful’s renewed zeal to return to power so soon.
Truth must, however, be told; the unrepentant critics cannot be entirely correct for claiming somewhat spuriously that President Akufo-Addo has deliberately worsened the plight of Ghanaians since assuming power on 7th January 2017.
The fact, however, remains that Ghana under the erstwhile NDC administration experienced massive economic downslide which regrettably brought to pass harsh socio-economic standards of living.
Given the circumstances, it will be difficult for any government under the sun to reverse such mess within a shortest possible time.
So, it is somewhat unfair and unreasonable to see the brassbound NDC faithful, who are currently enjoying uninterrupted electricity, reductions in electricity tariffs, low inflation, tax reductions (including import taxes), favourable economic growth and gargantuan savings on Free SHS, amongst others, gathering the courage to crudely castigate the NPP administration.
It is, therefore, extremely shocking to keep hearing such ridiculous misconceptions from the NDC apologists, many of whom only follow narrow party colouration, devoid of patriotism and solicitude.
But then again, one has to contain his/her emotional intelligence, show unconditional deference and composure, for after all, sycophancy, partisanship and lack of patriotism have been our greatest nemeses.
Given the bizarre circumstances, we can logically conclude that vague apprehension of patriotism exists in the minds of many Ghanaians, who regrettably prefer hero worshipping to defending the national interests.
Thus, some of our leaders ? having first-hand knowledge of our servile compliance and hero worshipping gimmicks ? tend to take us for granted and continue to provide us with mediocre leadership and services.
If that was not the case, how on earth would any reflective thinker sing the praises of a president who squeamishly dragged an economic growth of 14% in 2011 to a miserable 3.4% by December 2016 and unfairly keep censuring someone who has moved the growth from 3.4% to around 8% within a short space of time?
It is, however, gratifying to note that despite the huge economic mess left by the outgone Mahama administration, the Akufo-Addo’s government has admirably raised Ghana’s economic growth from a disappointing 3.4% in December 2016 to a favourable 8.6%. And the double digit inflation (15.8 in December 2016) has been reduced drastically to around 7.6%.
It must, however, be emphasised that no economist on this planet can undo the huge economic mess created by the NDC government within 36 months into a 48 month mandate.
So, it is quite unfair and irrelevant for the NDC loyalists to expect the Akufo-Addo administration to conjure magic and fix the mess so soon when the NDC administration paid GH¢800 million dubious judgment debt, including the GH¢ 51.2 million to Woyome, $45 million to the Waterville, $325,000 to the Isofoton, which resulted in the drastic reduction of capital expenditure.
k.badu2011@gmail.com
By K. Badu