The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, has called on Ghanaians to vote out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming elections to reset the nation.
Mahama argues that for Ghana to regain stability and prosperity, it is essential to overhaul the country’s governance and democratic systems.
He emphasized that the past eight years have been particularly challenging for democratic institutions and claimed that the progress made in democracy since 1992 has significantly regressed under the NPP government.
He stated, “Ghanaians must vote out the NPP and end this ‘horror movie’ they have been subjected to over the last eight years .”
Mahama criticized the NPP’s promise to safeguard public resources as an empty pledge, stating, “They haven’t just emptied the public purse—they’ve stolen the purse itself.”
He accused the appointees in the Akufo-Addo administration of excessive greed, highlighting the negative impact of their actions on the environment, including harm to water bodies and forest reserves.
“Their catastrophic failure has not only led to an increase in corruption but also to a disregard for citizens’ freedoms and rights, including the arbitrary detainment of citizens, depriving them of food and medical care,” he stated during an address on Thursday, October 31.
Mahama further criticized the government for its lack of integrity, transparency, and accountability. “It will not accept responsibility for the hardships it has caused in our society. It insists that it is not responsible for the damage done to our economy. It maintains that it cannot be held accountable for the national debt skyrocketing from GH¢120 billion in 2016 to GH¢767 billion in 2024, with very little to show for it.
“They will not acknowledge that compelling the Central Bank to print more than GH¢70 billion has led to inflation rising to about 54%, resulting in the Bank of Ghana posting a loss of over GH¢60 billion,” he remarked at the Governance Forum.
According to the former President, the primary purpose of democratic governance is to improve the living conditions of all citizens—including people with disabilities, retirees, and young people who are out of school and seeking jobs—in a tangible, sustainable, and equitable manner.
He asserted that democracy must be meaningful to citizens, delivering justice and allowing them the freedom to criticize the government without fear of facing repercussions from partisan national security operatives.
“In a true democracy, citizens, including journalists, security personnel, Electoral Commission workers, teachers, nurses, and doctors, should be able to go about their daily duties without fearing misinterpretation of their actions and democratic choices.”
“Their phones should be free from surveillance and monitoring. Bad governance threatens inclusive and sustainable development and undermines democracy. People must have the liberty to express their opinions.”
“Recent developments indicate that the people of Ghana, especially the youth, are becoming more assertive about their rightful aspirations. They are no longer deceived by superficial compliance, unprincipled stances, mere rhetoric, abuse of power, or divisive tribal and religious politics,” he stated.
