OPINION: Dear Mr Mahama, Ghana is not a pawn in your scramble for power

Dear Mr John Dramani Mahama,

I write to you in response to recent public comments by you, which have been both shocking and irresponsible for someone of your stature. Your remarks regarding the potential abolition of presidential primaries and the reintroduction of public tribunals if you win the 2024 presidential election, as well as your statements inciting a coup d’état are, quite frankly, alarming and capricious.

First, your suggestion that the political parties should abolish presidential primaries raises serious concern. It seems you are proposing to amend the constitution to extend your time in government beyond the terms set out by our democratic laws, or you aim to undermine the very foundations of our political system when voted into office.

Either way, this proposal reeks of desperation. Presidential primaries serve as an essential process for selecting leaders who represent the will of the people. Your intent to abolish this shows a disregard for democratic values and the principles of fair competition …

Second, Mr Mahama, your call for the reintroduction of public tribunals returns us to one of the darkest periods in our history. The public tribunal system destroyed the lives of many Ghanaians, confiscated assets unjustly and left countless individuals homeless. It was a system that disrespected human rights and, at its worst, led to the brutal killing of judges who stood against it. For you to call for its return suggests a profound misunderstanding of justice and a frightening willingness to repeat mistakes that have harmed our nation …

Lastly, your recent comments inciting a coup d’état are the height of irresponsibility. You have benefited personally from this very democratic system; enjoyed free secondary schooling even at a time when your father was a minister; lived off the state, from your time as an assemblyman all the way to the presidency, when the records show that you performed poorly in all these offices. Your call for the overthrow of a democratically elected government shows ingratitude and is reckless.

Sharp contrast

This is not the behaviour expected from someone who once held the highest office in the land. It is evident that you have realised you face impending defeat in the 2024 elections, and this is why you have resorted to making such erratic statements. However, let me be clear: there will be no coup in Ghana. Ghanaians are too enlightened to be swayed by such baseless rhetoric. We will not support an unserious politician who has failed repeatedly to articulate a clear message deserving of our votes.

Ghanaians are a people of high intelligence who have embraced democracy and cherish the freedoms it brings. It is this commitment to democracy that allowed someone like you, from a disadvantaged part of our country, to rise to the presidency. We will not destroy this democracy simply because of your desperate attempts to return to power. Ghanaians understand the importance of stability and progress, and we will not allow your reckless remarks to undermine the hard-won democratic foundation we have built.

Mr Mahama, your inadequacy as a leader is evident: Ghanaians are not in any way blind to it. You squandered the opportunity you were given to lead and your leadership was far from effective. To borrow an old adage: “Those who cry, ‘Wolf, wolf!’ when there is no wolf will be the ones slaughtered when the wolf finally appears.” Your reckless words will ultimately come back to haunt you. And history will not be kind to those who incite violence and unrest in pursuit of personal gain …

It is time for you to retreat to the comfort of the rooms you have built for yourself and your family. Spare the public space your divisive, dangerous rhetoric. Every time you make such statements, you only erode the little credibility you have left. This country deserves better options than the fearmongering you are promoting. Ghanaians deserve leaders who offer solutions, not threats …

Let me contrast your approach with that of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, whom God has already ordained to lead this country into increased prosperity and faster progress. Dr Bawumia, along with other presidential aspirants, is going across the country, speaking directly to the people, sharing policies and offering a vision for the future. Unlike you, these presidential candidates are not inciting violence or making proclamations which put our national security at risk. Dr Bawumia, in particular, has proven himself to be a man of vision, competence and integrity – qualities you, Mr Mahama, seem to lack. He speaks to the future of Ghana, while you remain mired in the past …

Mr Mahama, I urge you to stop beating the war drums, for, in the end, you and your family will be the first casualties of the chaos you seek to incite. Ghana has moved past the politics of fear and we are a forward-thinking nation. We will not allow ourselves to be dragged into the abyss by your irresponsible utterances …

Mr Mahama, never again beat the war drums in the public space. We are a serious nation, and we will not tolerate such infantile aggression from someone who had the opportunity to lead but failed miserably. Your leadership has been relegated to the sidelines and it is unacceptable for you to try to stoke tension in your desperate attempt to regain power. Ghanaians demand maturity and responsibility from their leaders. We will not allow your reckless rhetoric to undermine our nation’s peace and stability.

Respectfully,
Charles Owusu Juanah, Esq

Charles Owusu Juanah is a concerned citizen, a member of the Ghana Bar Association, a barrister at law and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana

Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand

The post OPINION: Dear Mr Mahama, Ghana is not a pawn in your scramble for power appeared first on Asaase Radio.