Former president John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over his successor’s recent public utterances and posture especially towards traditional leaders.
The former leader’s concern follows videos that emerged of president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at public events allegedly demanding traditional leaders to stand up and greet him.
In a post on social media, Mr. Mahama, who is the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), stated, “As the clock ticks towards the end of his mandate, the President’s attitude and utterances give much cause for concern. His recent insistence that chiefs stand up to greet him should be a matter of serious consternation for political watchers”.
He also took issues with president Akufo-Addo over the president’s recent comments that he cannot have the former leader, whom he defeated, as his successor.
Mr. Mahama said the president’s utterances depict him as arrogant and one who is inherently anti-democratic.
He, however, reminded the president that, “only the votes of the good people of Ghana and the will of the Almighty God will determine who succeeds him. This reaffirms the people’s power in shaping our nation’s future”.
While stating that president Akufo-Addo is capable of subverting the constitution so as to manipulate the electoral processes in favour of the governing party’s candidate, Mr. Mahama indicated he and his party’s resolve to protect the elections from any attempt to rig them.
“We know that this President is capable of anything and would not hesitate to trample on Ghana’s constitution to manipulate the process in favour of his preferred successor”.
He added, “I can assure him that Ghanaians and the National Democratic Congress will not allow this to happen”.
