President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has branded former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as a “failed president,” attributing his inability to secure a second term to poor economic management.
While addressing a meeting with professional bodies in Kumasi on Sunday, November 24, President Akufo-Addo asserted that Mr. Mahama’s defeat in the 2016 elections was a direct result of his mishandling of the economy, which led to widespread hardships for the Ghanaian population.
The President explained that Ghanaians had rejected Mr. Mahama in 2016 due to the economic difficulties experienced during his administration.
He cautioned the electorate against giving Mr. Mahama another chance at the presidency, arguing that his previous term did not inspire confidence in his leadership abilities.
President Akufo-Addo further criticized the NDC’s proposal to implement a 24-hour economy, labeling it as impractical. He highlighted that during Mr. Mahama’s time in office, the government struggled to provide a stable power supply for even 12 hours, thus making the concept of a 24-hour economy unrealistic.
These remarks come as both the NPP and NDC intensify their campaigns ahead of the December 2024 elections.
The President emphasized the economic challenges faced under Mr. Mahama’s leadership, noting that in 2016, without any global crises affecting the country, Ghana’s GDP growth rate was merely 3.4%, marking the lowest in over a decade.
He stated, “Mahama speaks as though he is a new figure in Ghanaian politics, but there is nothing new about him. He has been around as long as I have, and many Ghanaians remember his record.”
