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The public utterances of the outgoing President, Akufo-Addo clearly confirm my assertion that his nightmare is to hand over power to the determined and reinvigorated former President Mahama when Ghanaian voters re-elect him as President on December 7, 2024.

President Akufo-Addo’s anointed and preferred NPP Presidential Candidate to replace him, Dr. Bawumia has been confirmed by the NPP Delegates on November 4, 2023. However, Dr. Bawumia will now lock horns with former President Mahama for the ultimate Presidency slot in the next General elections.

Before I come to what President Akufo-Addo said on the victory day speech to outdoor Dr. Bawumia as the Flagbearer of the NPP, he made a very profound pronouncement a year ago which confirmed that President Mahama is his nightmare.
In order not to dilute Akufo Addo’s submission, let me quote and unquote him. He mockingly said in an interview on Ho-based Stone City FM and reported by Ghanaweb that “Mr. Mahama still has not been able to assimilate his defeat twice to me and l think every night when he goes to bed, he is confused about the man who has not just come back but given him a good whipping on two separate occasions” (read www.ghanaweb.com, 15 September 2022).

The above quotation of the President was not humorous enough in my opinion as elections are determined by various obvious and confounding factors and not all about ‘whipping’ another Candidate to prove a point. Despite his victory in 2020, President Akufo-Addo might have forgotten that Ghanaians were not happy with his seemingly kleptocratic style of governance in his first term, which reduced the NPP Majority in Parliament in his second term from 169 Members of Parliament (MPs) to 137 MPs now to produce the first-ever hung Parliament in Ghana.

Additionally, the most recent public utterance of President Akufo-Addo was the victory day of his anointed and favoured Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He said that “I have one more task to do, and that is all my strength all my energy to help Bawumia win the elections of 2024. Ghana cannot afford the return of NDC especially under the leadership of John Mahama.” (published by www.3News.com, November 4, 2023).

From the two instances cited above, it clearly elucidates the uncalm and nightmarish disposition of the outgoing President Akufo-Addo when it comes to the second coming of former President Mahama who was defeated twice after he left office in 2016. With the gargantuan track record of disappointing achievements in various sectors of the economy coupled with failed corruption and galamsey fights under President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, this governing NPP government is bound to be rejected by the decerning Ghanaian voters in 2024. This regime has also taken Ghanaians for granted for the past 7 years and the NPP Party should be heavily punished for that.

The overwhelmingly endorsed former President Mahama by the NDC Delegates as the Flagbearer going into 2024 is evidential proof of his return to the Presidency to finish his visionary agenda for Ghana. Believing my gut feeling, if the NDC Party had presented a different Presidential Candidate for 2024 and there is the possibility for that Candidate to win, President Akufo-Addo would not be bothered so much because of his public utterance about former President Mahama. Afterall, he got his two terms in office.

Considering Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia and the NPP’s shenanigans with respect to the performance of the Mahama-led regime and having succeeded twice in convincing Ghanaians with their too good promises before, President Akudo-Addo is having sleepless nights of handing over power to the same person he so criticised and mocked for ‘whipping’ him twice.

I find it very instructive and intriguing at the time that President Akudo-Addo assured Dr. Bawumia and NPP Delegates that he would do all he could to ensure Bawumia wins. It will be the track record of former President Mahama and that of yours including the contribution of Dr. Bawumia that will speak loudly on the day of elections.

Mr. President, it is Ghanaians who will assess your performance in government including Dr. Bawumia, your anointed and favoured Candidate for the past eight years and decide which political Party and leader should replace you in 2024.
I think what is in your powers (energy and strength) is to prove to Ghanaians that you can make their living conditions now better than you and the NPP came to meet under former President Mahama and the NDC. I am, however, afraid that it is too late for you and the NPP to reset the clock to do better in just a year left to go.

As former President Mahama is still constitutionally qualified to be in the Presidential race, unlike you now, he has a very high probability of winning the Presidency next year if majority of Ghanaians approve of his second coming.
Mr. President, your demonstration of approval for Dr. Bawumia is understandable as many will consider that you may want him to cover up perceived rots of your government which is plagued with a myriad of ongoing or unresolved scandals associated with your unenviable accolades such as ‘Clearing Agent’ and ‘Mother Serpent of Corruption’.

To state the obvious, it is up to the Ghanaian Voters to vote and choose who they want to lead them but not through any Presidential powers to replace or retain a Candidate or political Party in our 30-year-old democratic dispensation.

Ghanaians, let us all assess our current living conditions under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government and vote wisely next year to redirect and rebuild the country we all want together.

Views expressed by Dr. J.-B. Naah. This article was also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanweb.com

In about two weeks on the 4th of November 2023, the governing NPP is going again to their National Delegates Congress to elect a Presidential candidate to lead the badly limping governing NPP Party into the political battlefield in 2024.

The ten-man contest in the Special or Super Delegates Conference on 26 August 2023 was reduced to five Presidential candidates, namely Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, Kojo Alan Kyeremanteng, Dr. Akoto Afriyie and Francis Addai Nimo.

According to now Independent Presidential candidate, Kojo Alan Kyeremanteng, the processes and/or decisions taken by the National Council of the Party before, during, and after the exercise were ‘unmeritorious and unconstitutional’, leading to his exit from the ongoing Presidential race and the NPP Party.

Now the four aspirants will battle it out on November 4, 2023. It is likely the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (‘economic strategist’) and Kennedy Agyapong (‘showdown’) will lead the race again with Dr. Bawumia tipped to win the candidacy.

I have always maintained the position, that the current crop of Presidential aspirants of the NPP shows that the Party has no viable Presidential materials to lead the country, considering that they are all part and parcel of the rots of this unpopular and insensitive Akufo-Addo-led regime on various fronts.

Whoever the NPP Delegates finally select on November 4, 2023 (be it Dr. Bawumia or Kennedy Agyapong), none of them has the much-needed people management skills and presidential experience as compared to former President John Dramani Mahama who is a visionary leader and the Flagbearer of the NDC Party into the 2024 General elections.

As for ‘showdown’ Kennedy Agyapong, his questionable emotional intelligence (EQ) coupled with his history of unguarded, inflammatory utterances and unappealing demeanor has significantly reduced his presidential chances. Dr. Bawumia, on the other hand, who was supposed to be the ‘economist strategist’ of the NPP has proven to be highly unreliable and unable to fulfill his ‘superior’ economic measures as the current chairman of the economic management team (EMT) under this Akufo-Addo-led regime.

The weak fundamentals of this regime of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President (EMT Chairman) Bawumia have been badly exposed by the poorly performing dollar-cedi exchange rate as well as the poor economic indicators of the country under their watch. It is, thus, not surprising that Dr. Bawumia has now become an ‘IT guru’ while being loudly silent on the economy as the ‘economic strategist’ of the NPP. Although Dr. Bawumia is a Presidential material, he is a highly tainted Presidential material who has lost his credibility and not shown any form of better competence than the previous government led by former President Mahama.

Indeed, Ghana neither needs any ‘showdown’ leader like Kennedy Agyapong nor the ‘economic strategist’, Dr. Bawumia, whose economic prowess also is being questioned by Ghanaians including Kennedy Agyapong. The inconsistent Kennedy Agyapong once praised badly performing Dr. Bawumia in 2020 for electoral gain. There is even a simmering tension between the camps of Kennedy Agyapong and Dr. Bawumia and none of them is a viable Presidential candidate to lead Ghana after Nana Akufo-Addo’s poor governance style.

Considering the economic, social, and environmental mess caused by the governing NPP Party under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Bawumia, a visionary and selfless President is badly needed to clean the mess and rebuild the Ghana that we all want.

Having done it before, former President Mahama is the right person with the right set of leadership acumen and vision for sustainable development of the country come December 7, 2024.

Views expressed by Dr. J.-B. Naah. This article was also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanweb.com

The unexpected substitution of the Minority front bench in Parliament generated a mixed bag of criticism against and commendation for the NDC’s new national leadership led by Chairman-General Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and the Chief Scribe, Hon. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey.

The venerable Hon. Haruna and Hon. Mutaka exhibited sterling leadership qualities on the front bench representing the voices of the Minority Group of the NDC for the past six years.

It is, thus, understandable that such a sudden substitution has created a storm in the teacup by some bigwigs and regular members of the NDC. The timing factor, as a crucial part of the arguments against the Party’s decision to substitute the Minority leadership, nearly won the debate in my opinion. In the end, all comrades within and without the country rallied behind the NDC Party’s decision and created a beautiful scene to the admiration of the majority of Ghanaians.

The NPP wanted to take advantage of some dissenting voices to divide the NDC’s front but that was unsuccessful.
A coach worth his/her salt knows which players and when to make changes to the playing team to win important games. Thus, thumbs up to ‘Coach’ Chairman-General John Asiedu Nketiah and his team who knew when exactly to make a tactical substitution after carefully studying the political play in Parliament for the 7th December 2024 D-day of our democratic practice.

Chairman-General John Asiedu Nketiah exhibited the qualities of a winning coach who knows exactly when to make changes to his team although that decision was unpopular and unpleasant to some comrades, especially those who argued in the line of the time factor.

The new Minority leadership led by Hon. Dr. Casiel Ato Forson is living up to expectations so far. Having served notice to the Majority Group side of the House by the Minority Leader Forson, the Minority side should continue to hold the current government accountable to the people of Ghana.

Despite some of the 136 NDC MPs disagreeing with the Minority leadership substitution by the Party hierarchy, the show of maturity, unity, and support for the new Minority Leaders by the Minority side of the House is highly commendable.
The composure of Hon. Haruna and Hon. Mutaka after the needed substitution in Parliament is equally worthy of commendation!

Kudos to all NDC supporters for letting bygones be bygones in terms of the substituted Minority front bench. Unity and hard work are vitally crucial for NDC’s victory in 2024.

Kudos also to ‘Coach’ Chairman-General Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and his ‘technical team’.

Views expressed by Dr. John-Baptist Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

It is regrettable to witness how low Ghana has sunk under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime after Ghanaians were virtually hoodwinked to vote him as a better Presidential candidate and the NPP Party into power in 2016.

There were those social commentators and opinion leaders in society who were highly critical of the erstwhile Mahama-led government’s efforts then to invest in the future with visionary developmental projects and running a responsive government.

Interestingly and curiously, such loud voices have now gone dead silent under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime.
I have been wondering if the visible failures of this government are glorified in the face of the reality on the ground. I am tempted to hold such a view for obvious reasons.

This governing NPP government under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia has not only taken Ghanaians for granted now but also engaged in glorifying itself in failures on various fronts. Here is why!

ECONOMIC FRONT
As a presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo complained of increasing national debt, economic hardships, and corruption, and promised how to deal with such developmental challenges when voted into power together with his vice President, Dr. Bawumia leading the Economic Management Team.

Apart from the above-stated complaints, Nana Akufo-Addo then made categorical statements to the effect that Ghana was sitting on a lot of money and those NPP persons who might have thought of making money in his government would be disappointed.

Other comments like moving from taxation to production and other mouth-watering promises, which are struggling to either survive or are simply abandoned now such as the struggling FSHS program, the dead NABCO program, etc.
Nana Akufo-Addo in opposition talked about the mismanagement of the economy under Mahama’s regime, which has led to many Ghanaians suffering. Mr. President Akufo-Addo, where is the money in the land when you came to meet in the office, and yet Ghanaians are even facing excruciating pains?

On the economic front, President Akufo-Addo abysmally performed, which is diametrically opposed to his colorful political speeches and mouth-watering promises, which can best be described as white elephant promises.

CORRUPTION FRONT
When it comes to the discourse of corruption fight in the country, President Akufo-Addo has indeed been fought and defeated by corruption itself.

Although Nana Akufo-Addo promised a lot while in opposition to fighting corruption by using the ‘Anas’ Principle’, it is even during his regime that the Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas is more silent with his work than before and lost a key fellow Journalist, Ahmed Suale through broad day murder.

The former Special Prosecutor, Hon. Martin Amidu had to resign his post and nicknamed President Akufo-Addo the ‘mother Serpent of Corruption’ after Amidu attempted to conduct some investigative assessment on the botched Agyapa deal. The other tag for President Akufo-Addo as a ‘Clearing Agent’ of corruption is not enviable either.

There are countless instances of corruption in this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime, which strongly confirms that corruption is rather flourishing or poorly fought under his leadership.

SECURITY FRONT
As soon as this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime was in place, the Invisible Forces of the NPP Party visibly noticed signs of insecurity with the casing away of a judge in a Kumasi High court.

A mention can be made of the brutal Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which was a war scene in just a by-election. Among other insecurity situations, the killing of Ahmed Suale, who was working for the Tiger PI company, happened under this Akufo-Addo-led government.

The general insecurity situation in the country under this government cannot be deemed any better than before. The World Press Freedom Index has rated Ghana very low, which is highly unfortunate.

ENVIRONMENTAL FRONT
The phenomenon of the galamsey operations in the country has become worst under President Akufo-Addo’s regime after he put his presidency on the line. The Prof. Frimpong-Boateng Anti-galamsey report said it all and suggested ‘presidential Galamseyers’ who were directly thwarting the efforts of the government to seriously fight this environmental and human cancer.

The worsening galamsey menace can be equated to an ‘environmental murder’ as aquatic, terrestrial species are destroyed with careless abundance, and human lives are also badly affected and will have long-term socio-ecological consequences. Once again, President Akufo-Addo has lost the galamsey fight big time.

CONCLUSION: WHERE ARE THE WISE ONES WHO ARE SILENCED NOW?
Although President Akufo-Addo has been performing unsatisfactorily on various fronts mentioned above, there is deliberate silence on the part of those who were so critical of the previous Mahama-led government. Almost nothing seems to be working properly in Ghana nowadays under this government.

The questions remain: Where are those wise ones now in our society? Why are you not speaking with the same intensity and vigor about the uninspiring governance of this Akufo-Addo-led regime? President Akufo-Addo’s regime has disappointed many Ghanaians. Therefore, such loud silence on the appalling performance of this government is a glorified failure, and Ghana deserves better leadership.

This Opinion Piece is written by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

Former President Mahama is not only a huge human asset for the NDC Party for victory in 2024 but also for Ghana as a whole. Let me expatiate the reasons for this assertion of mine. But before I do so, I must state that there are a lot of lessons for young politicians in particular to learn from Mahama’s political rise to the Presidency and his second-coming ambition.

First, for me, President Mahama’s loss in 2016 epitomizes the lesson of a stone that is rejected by the builders becoming the cornerstone in the end. And patience is key in life! Second, President Mahama’s last presidency placed Ghana first before Party interest, as evidenced by monumental infrastructural development in the nation during his tenure. Third, the lesson of accepting defeat with humility and calmness is highly visible in President Mahama’s two successive defeats to allow our dear country to run uninterrupted under President Akufo-Addo’s regime now.

There is no denying the fact that H.E. John Dramani Mahama (as he is fondly called JDM) is a gargantuan asset to the NDC Party and Ghana. Here is why! During his presidency, JDM discharged his heavy presidential duties creditably well, having honed his ‘presidential’ skills from being an Assemblyman, an MP, a deputy Minister, Minister vice President and then President. Although he was hugely vilified during Dumsor, by countless industrial unrests and corruption-related matters under his regime, President Mahama kept his eye fixed on the crystal ball of contributing his quota to durable nation building, committed to fighting corruption and enablement of free speech, as a democratic state like ours requires.

In our Fourth Republican dispensation, JDM is the first ‘casualty’ of First Term President after President Akufo-Addo claimed victory in 2016. He is also the first former President who is constitutionally qualified to attempt a second-coming to the Presidency after his First Term. President Mahama’s performance and achievements are visible for well-meaning Ghanaians to recognize now even after he left office over six years ago. The appalling performance of this current NPP government led by President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disappointed many Ghanaians who thought President Akufo-Addo had the magic touch to Ghana’s developmental challenges and could turn things around.

Rather, President Akufo-Addo only promised so much in 2016 and now delivering so little in the areas of corruption, protection of the public purse, nepotism, creation of durable jobs for the teaming youth and overseeing seemingly misplaced priorities (e.g. National Cathedral). Ghanaians are now appreciating JDM’s genuine efforts better! In principle, President Mahama has nothing to lose if he does not come back to the Jubilee House. However, having displayed sterling and rich political experience and total commitment to serving Ghana, JDM still has a lot more to offer Ghana and his Party. He still has an enviable national appeal to the majority of Ghanaians, and this was evidenced by over six million votes pulled by JDM in the 2020 General elections, which was short of presidential victory though. His good works are still loudly speaking for themselves and for the NDC Party (as a whole) in opposition.

Former President Mahama has indeed learned from his mistakes as a human being and he will do strategically, operationally, and tactically well in terms of governance in his second-coming. The NDC should jealously protect the hen (JDM) that lays the golden eggs! The second-coming of JDM to the Presidency come 2024, if he is given the nod by his Party and then Ghanaians in the General elections next year, will be worthwhile to afford him another opportunity to accomplish his unfinished plans for Ghana.

This Opinion Piece is written by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

The first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, left an indelible mark in the annals of Ghana’s democratic dispensation despite ruling Ghana for 6 years. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s image has gone beyond the shores of Ghana and he still lives in the minds of Ghanaians through his visionary leadership style and enduring developmental projects that have proven to be critically useful for Ghana’s development trajectory.

These futuristic developmental projects of Dr. Nkrumah like the Akosombo Dam, Tema Habour, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Adomi Bridge, factories, and industries, etc. qualify him as a generational thinker of his time.

As they say, great leaders stand on the shoulders of equally great leaders to excel in servant leadership. Thus, former President Mahama stood on the shoulders of late former Presidents, H.E. Ft. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and H.E. John Evans Atta-Mills of the Fourth Republic. He discharged his ministerial, parliamentary, and presidential responsibilities creditably well.

Former President Mahama has the semblance of the qualities of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and I refer to him as the ‘Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Jr.’ in our present-day Ghana. Here is why! Like Dr. Nkrumah, former President Mahama possesses great personality traits like an effective communicator and a generational thinker during his time as the fourth President of the Fourth Republic. He has openly expressed his admiration for Dr. Nkrumah, and his strong belief in social democracy as many other Ghanaians do.

In Ghana today, President Mahama is the most experienced politician, with enviable visionary leadership acumen compared to others wanting to lead Ghana in the 2024 presidential election. Whilst in office like Dr. Nkrumah, former President Mahama undertook durable developmental projects in the areas of education, health, rural electrification, women empowerment, and long-term industrial development. The impressive infrastructural development under his main 4-year presidency has earned him the name the ‘Nation Builder’.

Key examples of infrastructural development projects worthy of mention include the E-blocks to accommodate the ever-growing free Senior Secondary School (FSHS) numbers, Quaternary Hospital – the University of Ghana Medical Center including other hospitals and polyclinics, and other innovative programs. Although former President Mahama left office in 2016, these projects play crucial roles in the development of the country. For instance, the E-blocks and hospitals built under former President Mahama’s regime have proven to be the ‘messiah’ during the hasty implementation of the FSHS by this current Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government and the advent of the SARS-COV-19 pandemic respectively.

Former President Mahama demonstrated a commitment to fighting corruption and corruption-related matters under his regime. He held his appointees like Hon. Abuga Pele, Youth Employment Agency Boss, Hon. Victoria Hammah, deputy Communications Minister, etc. responsible for their actions or inactions. Unlike what we are experiencing now in this country under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government, Mr. Mahama made corruption an unattractive venture to engage in. Unlike Presidents Nkrumah and Mahama, we are now witnessing all kinds of corruption including hoarding cashing saga at homes, etc. under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime.

Former President Mahama has been one of the most vilified Presidents of Ghana. He was accused of incompetence, corruption scandals in the case of Ford Gift, buying imaginary houses for himself, and slay queens in Dubai. These vile accusations never saw the light of day after he left office in 2016 because of his innocence. The Opposition NPP wanted to make former President Mahama irrelevant in Ghanaian politics but that rather made him a national hero after the poor show of his predecessor, President Akufo-Addo. One of the most admirable strengths of former President Mahama is his calm and collected demeanor amid such worrying accusations. He indeed walked his talk!

Former President Mahama’s national appeal is unquestionable. It is not surprising to see the NDC delegates giving him a 99% endorsement in May 2023 to be their Presidential candidate for the 2024 general elections. His agenda of inclusive development and rebuilding Ghana from the failing Akufo-Addo-led government will be realized when Ghanaians vote Mr. John Dramani Mahama and the NDC back into power next year. The misrule of Ghana under the ongoing Presidency of Akufo-Addo indeed amplifies the sterling leadership trait and futuristic plans former President Mahama has for Ghana.

It will not be surprising to see the second comeback of former President Mahama to contest for President in the upcoming 2024 general elections. Former President Mahama is indeed ‘Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Jr.’ of Ghana as they both have admirable and futuristic commonalities as I espoused above. Ghanaians will decide the faith of his second comeback and the NDC Party come next year in December.

This Opinion Piece is written by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

The continuous escalation of the sufferings of Ghanaians for the past 6 years and counting under the Nana-Bawumia-led regime is gravely concerning to many in the country and beyond. I strongly believe that Ghana is indeed in a dire economic and governance hole! Thus, this government needs to take more pragmatic and genuine steps rather than short-term and eye-pleasing measures.

It is often said that when you are already in a hole, you don’t continue to dig but you rather stop digging and try to come out it. This is what the Nana-Bawumia-led government should do right now to address the largely self-inflicted problems in the country.

Before this government came to power in 2017, it has raised the expectations of majority of Ghanaians with promises on measured borrowing, sustainable jobs for the youth, flagship projects, corruption flight, etc. However, this government delivered below expectation since 2017 and Ghanaians are rather experiencing excruciating hardships now. For instance, the 1) unsustainable debt levels, 2) ballooned expenditure envelop at the presidency, 3) inadequate capital investments/sustainable jobs, 4) failed galamsey fight and 5) struggling promised flagship projects are having negative rippling effects on livelihoods of Ghanaians right now.

In the midst of above-cited troubling economic and social circumstances, the application of the nudge theory is extremely necessary. Let me explain why!

The nudge theory is based upon the idea that by shaping the environment (also called choice architecture); one can influence the likelihood that one option is chosen over another by individuals. The concept of nudge theory was introduced by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein1 and has recently come to prominence in the last decade to influence behaviour. A key element of nudge theory is giving an individual the ability to maintain freedom of choice and to feel in control of the decisions they make.

Honestly speaking, government’s attempt to shape policy choice options for citizens to buy in are largely ineffective or at best highly repulsive. For instance, the Rambo style of recently passed e-levy coupled with opaque accounting of president’s expensive international travels, ‘fat’ government size with no major reshuffles over 6 years now, unbridled borrowing by the Finance Minister, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, leading to his censure and the domestic debt exchange programme for the IMF staff-level arrangement have exacerbated the plight of Ghanaians.

The government of Ghana should have honestly focused on demonstrating measurable commitments to reducing borrowing and discretionary expenditure to sustainably manage both the domestic and international debt levels. With respect to the e-levy passage, the Majority in Parliament arrogantly pushed it through to the dislike of many Ghanaians, leading its poor performance to rake in the needed revenue for government.

Therefore, the use of nudge theory by government will help to assuage the sufferings of Ghanaians by deliberately shaping transparent and convincing policy options or taking actions with direct citizens’ involvement. This will voluntarily attract majority of Ghanaians and positively change their behaviours to assist in the restructuring of Ghana’s worrying debt situation now. Any mounting of additional income taxes coupled with worsened hikes in inflation of goods and services as well as petrol prices will not help the already precarious situation in the country. I hope the government listens to this unsolicited advice.

Views expressed by Dr. J.-B. Naah. It is also published on www.modernghana.com and www.ghanaweb.com

References
1. Thaler, R., & Sunstein, C. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen;
Fellow Ghanaians;
My Brothers and Sisters;

Allow me to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to you for your tremendous support—which you expressed overwhelmingly and convincingly at the polls. There is no doubt that Ghanaians from every region of this great nation voted for change—and we did so in both the Presidential and the Parliamentary elections.

I am a staunch believer in the experiment of democracy, the system of governance that allows the ultimate decision-making power to rest in the hands of you, the good people of Ghana. We, the people who, with an eye toward to future we would like for our dear country, elect representatives to go forward and realize that vision.

Government serves at the choice, direction, and pleasure of the people of this great nation. And I have had the honour and privilege to serve my country in all levels of government.

When, in 2016, at the end of my first full term as President I ran for re-election as an incumbent candidate, I respected the will of the people. I conceded, stepped aside, and set in motion a peaceful transfer of power—because I understood that it was the will of the people. And if we are to progress as a nation, if we are to live up to the inheritance of our history, one for which people have paid the ultimate price—that sacred verdict of the people must be respected. It must be protected.

It has been my pledge throughout my time of service as a representative to the good people of Ghana to do exactly that. And that it why I stand before you tonight unwilling to accept the fictionalized results of a flawed election.

My Brothers and Sisters, it is important to remember that the government that is in power controls all of the state resources and oversees all of the state’s institutions. The line he treads between his loyalty to the power that is held by the people, and by his own desire to hold on to power, can be a thin one indeed.

We went into the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections with assurances from the Electoral Commission and the relevant state actors that it would be conducted in an atmosphere free from fear, and that it would be fair, transparent, and credible. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

What we witnessed across the country from Monday December 7, 2020 exposed a deliberate plan to manipulate and predetermine the results of the election in favour of the incumbent candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, who, as so happens, controls all of the state resources and oversees the state’s institutions.

Despite all of the ruling party’s inducements, use of monetary enticements, and other such schemes on a scale never before seen in this country, the good people of this country understood what was at stake, and it was clear, as the result of the votes that were legally cast that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
No amount of trickery, sleight of hand, or obfuscation will erase that reality. I am extremely proud of our parliamentary candidates who have earned for themselves the title of “giant elephant killers.” We went into the Parliamentary election with a deficit of 63 seats.

We made up for our 2016 losses and we are now set to become the majority in Parliament. This historic feat after one term demonstrates the strength of our great party, and the strength of the mandate given to us by the good people of Ghana to lead.

In respect of the Presidential elections: the facts and figures available to us from pink sheets and other evidence that has unfolded across the country, indicate that numerous steps have been taken to manipulate the results of the election in favour of the incumbent President.

This calls into question the credibility of one of our most important institutional pillars of democracy—the Electoral Commission. It is now obvious to many objective minds that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission has been used to manipulate results from the various constituencies and in that process seek to subvert the sovereign will of the Ghana People.

My Brothers and Sisters, one matter requires special mention. The use of the military in this election is unprecedented. The Armed forces featured heavily as an intimidating measure to reverse election results, and they continue to be used in the same intimidating role to insist on recounts in areas in which the incumbent has lost whilst arm-twisting election officers during these supposed recounts.

We will not accept anything short of a declaration of the legitimate results, which point to an NDC Parliamentary Majority.

My Brothers and Sisters, advisedly, since the inception of the Fourth Republic, final election results have always been declared within 72 hours to allow for a thorough and diligent collation. Surprisingly, this Electoral Commission Chairperson announced, quite suspiciously and for reasons known to her, a hurried 24-hour deadline, which as we all know could not, and would not, be met.

The Chairperson of the EC, in less than 24 hours after her declaration, has admitted that she has made unacceptable errors, which go to the heart of the entire electoral process and cast deep doubt on the credibility of the announced outcome.

The Electoral Commission of Ghana has never brought its credibility to this historic low at such a crucial moment of election result declaration. In fact, the litany of irregularities and blatant attempts at rigging for a candidate is obvious and most embarrassing.

Ghana has come too far in our democracy, in our transparency, and in our well-earned international reputation for free and fair and nonviolent elections, to find ourselves here, where we are with this election.

As has been announced by our party, the National Democratic Congress: We are unable to accept the outcome of the election as declared by the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Mensah. Those results are flawed and discredited.

When it comes to the parliamentary elections, the NDC has a working majority of one hundred and forty 140 seats. What has happened since, was a deliberate attempt, targeting five (5) of the 140 seats, to steal and, thus, subvert the people’s verdict. A closer look and detailed examination of the constituency specific facts cast very dark clouds on our democracy.

Allow me to speak in specifics, so our claims are known to all.
In Sefwi Wiawso, the results were declared without the contents of one ballot box being counted. The parties had agreed that an issue of alleged over-voting should be referred to the collation centre to be resolved. The ballot box mysteriously disappeared en route to the collation centre. Nevertheless, results were declared in favour of the NPP Candidate.

In Upper Denkyira West, the EC official deferred the declaration of results because of death threats. The results favour the NDC candidate as has been confirmed earlier today.

In Sene West, a ballot box was snatched, and the culprit apprehended. The seal of the NPP must have dislodged in the ensuing scuffle. That of the NDC and the Electoral Commission were intact. However, NPP would not allow the contents of the ballot box to be counted and added to the lot because it would obviously favour the NDC.

In Techiman South, the NDC won quite clearly, but for whatever unknown reason, the military was invited. In the ensuing scuffle two people were shot and killed by the military. A third person who sustained injuries has now been pronounced dead.

Three Ghanaians who wanted nothing more than for their country to fulfil its promise of democracy have lost their lives—at the hands of the military that is meant to safeguard their rights as citizens. They include Abdallah Ayaric- 18 years and Tajudeen Alhassan- 39 years.

The results have allegedly been strangely declared for the NPP, even though the EC Chair claims to have left Techiman South out of her declaration. After a review of our pink sheets for Techiman South, we can confirm that NDC won the parliamentary seat as follows: NDC—50,417 and NPP—49,825.

In the Eastern Region, the results in the Presidential Elections, which were collated and signed by all the parties were not the same ones that were transmitted from the Region to the Electoral Commission offices in Accra. The padded figures have since been exposed.

The Ashanti Region provides fundamental problems that require further investigation and an electoral audit. Evidence gathered across board shows that the aggregates on the summary sheets of some constituencies do not reflect the individual results on the polling station pink sheets.

You may also recall that prior to December 7, 2020, there were complaints that ballot papers thumb-printed in favour of Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo were found at various locations.

In Bantama for instance, it was noticed that the portion of the pink sheets reserved for recording the number of persons biometrically verified was not filled on a large number of pink sheets. When our agents requested for the biometric machines to confirm the recorded results, they were denied access, with the explanation that they were recorded in a book, access to which was also denied them.

My Brothers and Sisters, these are serious issues, ones that attack the very foundation of our democracy and our rights as citizens of this sovereign nation to elect our representatives, and to have a say in who leads our government.

It may interest you to know that since the inception of the Fourth Republic, agents of the political parties represented in the collation room go through a settled procedure by which a declaration of final results are made. This involves the production of constituency by constituency results, which are then scrutinised by the agents and after their consent, the said results are then announced.

Unfortunately, this time round under this Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensah, a different system was adopted, one in which bulk regional results were provided without supportive pink sheet data by which agents could validate the accuracy of the result.

Consequently, not a single pink sheet from the constituencies supporting the bulk regional collation was provided. This is in direct violation of Regulations 3 and 44 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020. (C.I. 127). Little wonder that the Chairperson managed to obtain a cumulative figure of more than 100%.

On account of this, my party is confident that what has happened is a violation of the law, a violation of due process and therefore tantamount to an illegality. It is also a violation of an understanding we hold dear in this country—the understanding that this is not a dictatorship, or a monarchy run by a single family for the benefit of that family.

Ghana belongs to the people of Ghana—all of the people of Ghana. We would like to urge the media, civil society and all election observer missions to be resolute and present a fair and accurate account of what has transpired over this period.

We request of the international community to remain engaged in what is happening in Ghana and to take careful note of the current threat that is being waged to our democracy, our freedom, and our way of life.

To all NDC members and those who voted for us, I appeal to you not to be intimidated or cowed to submit to a dishonest process in the face of overwhelming evidence that supports the justness of our cause.

I extend my deep condolences to the families of all who were killed simply because they were determined to protect their votes from those whose thirst for power outweighs their love of country.

Let us all please rise to observe a minute’s silence in their honour.

My Brothers and Sisters, I know dark moments like these can make us question our resolve and confidence in the promise and potential of Ghana and our democracy and institutions. I choose to be a determined optimist based on my personal article of faith formed by long service to my country, including service in the high office of President.

I urge you all to keep your confidence in Ghana and keep betting on our democratic experiment. This is a test of our ability within this democratic system to rise to the occasion and seek redress, to right all wrongs, to seek justice, to make every vote count and to respect the sovereign will of the people. Let us not fail this test.

Let history look back and be proud of how we united and stood up to fight for the people’s fundamental right to freely elect their leaders devoid of crude political manipulation.

It is for this reason that my colleagues and I in the NDC, will not accept what we know to be a fraudulent outcome of these elections. We will take all legitimate steps to reverse this travesty of justice.

Finally, let me assure our teeming supporters and millions of Ghanaians who voted for this change, which has been stolen – the real stolen verdict – that we are beefing up capacity in the constituencies, where the ruling NPP is seeking to overturn our Parliamentary victories already chalked.

We are deploying an additional crack team of lawyers and senior Party officials to support them. Also, in order not to leave any further infractions unaccounted for, the NDC will continue its meticulous audit of all presidential pink sheets to ensure that the verdict of the people is upheld.

These steps will surely lead to our next line of actions within the constraints of our democratic governance process.

We want to send a caution to the EC that in line with Regulation 47 of CI 127, they should ensure that election data is preserved for a year, after elections.

Let me assure you, my dear voter, your vote will count.

The voice of the people is the voice of God; so, let’s go forth knowing that God is on our side and if God be for us who can be against us!

Thank you and do have a goodnight.

The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama says the Free Senior High School (Free-SHS) programme was started by the NDC government in 2015.

He said the current government poorly implemented the programme, which compelled them to adopt the double-track system, “I assure you, my countrymen, that within one year, I will cancel the double track.”

“We started the programme and the NPP came and continued it. Unfortunately, the implementation has been very poor, and so it ended us in double track,” Mr. Mahama stressed at Tuobong, a community in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region.

The flagbearer, who is also a former President, is on a three-day campaign tour of the Region to galvanize votes in the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

He said when voted back into government, “All the Community Day Schools we were building, 200 of them, we are going to finish them so that all the children can get schools to attend.

“With the Community Day Schools we are building, we are going to add dormitory blocks for girls and boys so that those who don’t come from the community where the school is sited if they choose that school and they are posted there, they will be able to get a decent place to live and learn.”

On illegal mining popularly referred to as “galamsey,” Mr. Mahama said “If we handle the issue of galamsey properly, we can create one million jobs for young people in this economy, and so NDC is going to come out with a new plan for small scale mining.

He explained that the NDC would map out all Districts where gold mining took place, and in all those Districts, “We are going to establish what we call a Gold Board. We are going to take young people from the University of Mines and Technology who know how mining should be done.

“They are going to come and work with you the small scale miners and show you how to do the mining safely and probably. Let me tell you something, if you are digging a pit to mine gold, you need to take the soil samples and test and see what kind of soil it is. There is some soil that easily carves in. There are other soils that are firmer.

“They will show you how to put support so that the pit does not carve in and bury you underground. That is the work they have been trained to do. They will come and work with you and show you how to do it safely so that we don’t lose any life,” the NDC’s Flagbearer said.

He said after they had finished mining, they would be taught by the graduates how to cover the pits and put the topsoil back on and plant trees on it to reclaim the land, “We are going to enter into a new era of small scale mining, and we are going to do it properly.”

Mr. Mahama said all miners who had their excavators, concessions, and equipment seized, would be collected and given back to the owners, adding that there were lots of potentials for gold mining in the northern sector.

“We are going to explore all those areas and make sure that we open big scale mines that can employ as many of our young people here as possible.”

The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, says the Ashanti Region has seen no development under the Akufo-Addo administration despite voting massively for him in the 2016 general elections.

He said the ‘sad and painful aspect of the situation’ is that the President has also refused to complete various developmental projects that the Mahama administration started in the region.

Addressing NDC supporters at Bosomkyekye in the Mampong constituency on Saturday, during NDC Presidential Candidate, John Mahama’s tour of the Ashanti Region, Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said instead of the President building development projects, he has specialised in re-naming projects that his government inherited from past administrations.

“Build your own projects and name them and stop re-naming the ones you didn’t build”, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said.

The NDC’s National Chairman said his party has kept good faith with the Ashanti Region in terms of development projects, including the construction of the Kejetia market, various hospital projects, schools and the Barekese Water Expansion Projects, among others.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo assured the people that John Dramani Mahama will continue all abandoned projects in the Ashanti Region and will work hard to provide decent and sustainable jobs.

He said Mr Mahama is also committed to protecting the thousands of jobs in the local automotive industry, including those in Suame Magazine, Abossey Okai, Kokompe and others.

Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo said unlike President Akufo-Addo, Mr Mahama is a trust-worthy leader who will not waste state resources.

“Mr Mahama will not waste public resources like we are seeing today where even a chair belonging to the President is having its own fully air-condition car following him everywhere. Mahama is a servant and he is going to serve to promote development for every Ghanaian”, he said.

Mr Ampofo, therefore, urged electorates to vote for Mr Mahama in the December 7, 2020, general elections to enable him create prosperity for all by providing jobs, implementing free primary healthcare for all, free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T-VET) as well as state-sponsored National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP) to equip the youth with employable skills.