Story: Yaw Takyi 

The 2024 flagbearer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress  (NDC) John Dramani Mahama says his party is ready to take the reins of government come December 7, 2024. 

“Comrades, as this dialogue marks another phase of the NDC’s policy development process, it is also the clearest indication  of how far we have come as a party and our readiness for the election of 2024”, he said. 

“We are all acutely aware that we do not have the benefit of time  from 7 January 2025 after  we are sworn into office. Ghanaians have high hopes and expectations which we intend to meet”. 

These high expectations, Mr Mahama said  would reflect  in the next NDC government their unwavering belief in their  ability to deliver – and that was  why he was  again happy that the NDC had  already stepped into the next phase of considering the implementation  and action points in respect of our key and flagship policy proposals. 

“The enormity of the challenges we face today and those we will uncover would mean that we must come into government with a clear plan and a strategy. We have the plan and strategy and know exactly what to do when sworn into office on 7 January 2025”, he indicated  

The  former Ghanaian leader  made these observations at  a national  policy dialogue organized by NDC  at the Peduase Lodge  in the Eastern region. The two-day programme was to subject NDC’s  policy proposals, especially the 24-hour economy, to scrutiny to meet the expectations of Ghanaians.

Mincing no words, Mr. Mahama lashed out at the NPP campaign team for attacking him over his proposal.

Some key members of the NPP have argued that the 24-hour economy lacks clarity, while others also argue that it’s already operational.

But the NDC leader  noted that, “the widespread acceptance of the 24-hour policy appears to have sent the NPP campaign into a tailspin, leading to a frantic effort to attack it through calumny and disinformation in the last few days.”

“We are fortified in the knowledge that the days when the NPP assumed that they could use falsehood to hoodwink Ghanaians for electoral advantage are over, mainly because of their horrific performance in the last seven years after they were entrusted with the administration of our dear nation, Ghana.”

He asserted that his promises of reducing the size of his government if elected president forced Bawumia to promise the same despite being an integral part of the government.

“I note that my long-espoused pledges to substantially reduce the size of government by having much fewer Ministries, Ministers and appointees, abolish the payment of ex-gratia, scrap taxes like the e-levy and carry out far-reaching constitutional and governance reforms, have compelled my opponent to promise the same despite being front of centre of the poor governance under which all these ills have taken place. I mean business on my promises and intend to keep them.”

He further criticized the NPP flagbearer for attempting to absolve himself of the economic mess.

“There is no room in leadership for excuse-making and flight from responsibility. You cannot make grandiose promises about the economy in 2016 only to be put in charge, run it down, push all of us into suffering and hardships and turn around to say you were only the mate of a reckless driver and, therefore, you should be excused from blame.”

The NDC flagbearer highlighted his performance when he was a vice-president as against the current vice president, stressing that he has a record of taking responsibility unlike Dr. Bawumia.

“Not only do I have a much better and measurable performance record in both my role as Vice President and Head of the Economic Management Team, and later as President, than my leading contender in this year’s elections, I also have a record of taking responsibility. The same cannot be said of my opponent.”