Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has asserted that it is not within President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s power to decide who he will hand over to after the upcoming general elections.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 30, during a meeting with the Central Regional House of Chiefs where he introduced his running mate, Mr. Mahama emphasized that the President must hand over to whoever is elected by the people of Ghana.
“Please tell [President Akufo-Addo], it is not in his mouth to determine who he will hand over to. He should just promise that when the elections are held, whoever wins, will hand over. You can’t say you won’t hand over to John Mahama. If the people of Ghana say John Mahama is who they want and they elect me, you will have to hand over to me,” Mahama declared.
Mahama’s remarks come in response to a statement made by President Akufo-Addo during a mini rally in Doboro, Greater Accra Region, where the President suggested that he could not hand over power to someone he had defeated twice in previous elections.
President Akufo-Addo had urged voters to support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s candidate, saying, “I can’t hand over to someone I defeated twice and who is not happy with everything I do. He will destroy the work that I have done. Vote for Dr. Bawumia. I have worked with him for the past seven and a half years. I have confidence in him; I know he can continue the good work.”
Mahama’s response underscores the principle that the will of the people, as expressed through the electoral process, should determine the next leader of Ghana.
