Dear Mahama NDC,
Look around you! What do you see in terms of how President Akufo-Addo has maintained his grip on political power and the general direction of the country?
Now, cast your minds back to pre-2016. What was the narrative then?
Chairman Rawlings actually warned against how Mahama was ‘toying with political power’ – he admonished the faithfuls never to underestimate the NPP – He made the point that the NPP have been in existence for a long time and have been changing their name till this date, and that the nature of who they are, what they are, where they’ve come from is something they’re happy with, and they will be there for a long time.
But no one listened, rather, Mahama ruled the country like a typical spineless puppet leader, sacrificing NDC values on the altar of political expediency.
And as if the weak leadership wasn’t enough, folks still shouted ‘edey bee keke,’ danced to the ‘Onapo’ lyrics, and aggressively championed for John Mahama with the mindset that his popularity alone was enough to carry the day. It ended in tragedy, with the most humiliating electoral loss ever in the history of Ghana politics.
Four years on, in 2020, he lost again and ended up at the Supreme Court with some fanciful claims. As obvious as it was to all with half a brain that Mahama and his running mate did not have a hope in hell of winning, the NDC stuck with them, preferring not to “hurt feelings” than dispense with leaders and characters who are surefire losers.
Truth is, it will take decades for Mahama to extract himself from the mess he created for the NDC – that a political movement with a revolutionary anticedent like the NDC is at the mercy of the Machiavillian antics of the NPP is as damning an indictment of the Mahama leadership as it’s possible to imagine. The NDC now is utterly incapable of influencing and mobilising the larger Ghanaian population to mass action even at the time the NPP government seem to be struggling.
Just how long can the serried ranks of hypnotised Mahama faction prop up a man who has shown that he’s incapable of leading as a true son of the party of Rawlings? Just what’s the end game?
How much more of this is the good party folks in the NDC going to put up with? Are we saying that the party is devoid of talents that it’s incapable of bringing this sorry saga to an end?
Whilst the Mahama faction has aided and abetted him at every turn, it’s a certainty he will screw up again if he’s given the nod for 2024 – There’s no new cunning ruse, and certainly there’s no new depth plumed, Mahama is totally and predictably weak as a leader and always has been. He has not changed, he will not change. Either the NDC get rid of him, or we’re doomed to NPP rule for at least another 8-years.
At this stage, I’m fairly convinced it will take a smart mix of intuition and courage to bring folks to get it that Mahama had his cake, ate it and has nothing else to prove. In the long run, revolutionary values should lead the way, and somehow a post-Mahama era must become possible.
I shall be back!!