His name rings a bell. He came onto the throne as the youngest of all presidents who have governed the country Ghana post-independence.
He was first sworn in as president after the demise of Ghana’s first-ever president to have died whilst on the seat of the presidency, His Excellency professor John Fiifi Atta Mills. John Dramani Mahama’s ascendancy to the throne was as dramatic as anything could ever be, going to work one morning as the Vice-President and returning home as a President of the Republic of Ghana the same day in June 2012.
He gave hope to the youth for the fact that once, a young person has been given the opportunity to rule, and maybe, this is a time for the young people to prove that they can also administer this country better than the old age people have done over the years.
Alas, many of his policies and programs targeted at developing this country rather led to the numerous challenges that this country witnessed during his time. There were rampant cases of corruption everywhere in the spheres of government; corruption of higher magnitude such that there were calls for deep investigation against many government officials.
One can name GYEEDA, the almighty RLG, and the Hope City amongst others. All of these projects failed to materialize. Anger grew, and people expressed serious outbursts against the once darling boy of many Ghanaians, John Dramani Mahama.
His government was characterized by mudslinging, pettiness, and bootlicking. This led to a lot of bickering within the circles of government and the NDC as a whole. There was gargantuan agitation against the government of the day led by John Dramani Mahama. So in the lead-up to the 2016 elections, most of the polls that were conducted pointed out the fact that John Dramani Mahama will become Ghana’s first President to have lost after the first 4-year of ruling the country, and indeed it came to pass that in the 2016 elections. Ghanaians chose the older Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo over the younger John Dramani Mahama.
It was a resounding voice and oneness from the people of Ghana to discard corruption and to welcome what was described as a future because the NPP promised jobs and most of all free Senior high school.
So to wake up to the news that Mahama says it is likely he will contest the 2024 elections is quite interesting. The headlines have been all over the news that he is likely to come back in 2024. Will he ever make it despite everything that is happening? From a lot of things, it may be difficult for him. President Mahama may think he has a chance because of the current outcry of Ghanaians on the Akufo Addo government. He should know that Ghanaians have a different reaction to his recent announcement.
It is shocking, but the reality; Ghanaians may never allow John Dramani Mahama to ever ascend the throne as President of Ghana again. We are sorry, Mr. Mahama, we can’t let this happen. You cannot have our support again.
