Former President John Dramani Mahama has argued that the effectiveness of leadership is determined not by its duration but by its quality. He argued that four years of honest leadership is better than eight years of dishonesty.
According to him, it is not about eight years or four years; it is about hard work, truth, trust, and doing the things that will create a future for young Ghanaians.
Speaking during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) official campaign launch in Tamale on Saturday, former President Mahama slammed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government, accusing them of being disconnected from the realities faced by Ghanaians.
“They are living in a dream world, a fantasy world. If you’re not living in an illusion, when people are hungry, how can you tell them they are satisfied,” he questioned.
Despite government claims that Ghanaians are experiencing prosperity, Mahama underscored the alarming statistics.
He said, “Last year, in 2023, 8 million of our citizens went 24 hours without food because they couldn’t afford it. Almost 2 million young people are sitting at home without education, training, or employment.”
“They’re just sitting idle, still living in their parents’ houses because they don’t have an income to start a life of their own.”
He criticized the current government’s handling of the economy, stressing the rise in unemployment from 8% in 2016 to 14.7% and inflation reaching as high as 54%.
“For a government that claims to have an economic wizard, telling us to clap for them because inflation is still above 20%, if that’s not living in an illusion, I don’t know what is,” he said.
The former President underscored the importance of democracy, which allows citizens to enact change every four years and stressed that the time has come for us to reset Ghana.
He said, “I believe that four years is enough to do the reset of Ghana. We will reset this country so that future generations can build on that foundation.”
Mr. Mahama also addressed the negative impact of government policies on the banking sector.
The capital of indigenous Ghanaians in the banking sector, he said, was wiped away with one reckless decision leaving those who worked in the banking sector without jobs.
Most, he said, have now become Uber drivers, bakers, or driving Aboboya and Mahama Kambou.
He pledged to restore the licenses of banks unjustly closed, stating, “When we come, we will restore for those who unjustifiably had their banking licenses withdrawn. We shall restore their licenses to create more employment for our people.”
Mahama urged Ghanaians to vote for change on December 7 and appealed, “That is why the NDC is calling on you on December 7 to do your duty to your God and country so that we can turn this nation around.”