The President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama has issued a rallying call to members and executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to uphold discipline and demonstrate a distinct approach to governance, emphasizing the need to avoid the mistakes of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His remarks come at a crucial time as the National Democratic Congress takes the reigns of power following the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on January 7, 2025.
Addressing party members, President Mahama stressed the importance of restoring the confidence of Ghanaians by fulfilling the promises made during the campaign.
“We need to get this right so that Ghanaians will boost their confidence in us and give us another opportunity to continue. So all of us must put, our shoulders on the wheel and work as hard as we can to make things right. Ghanaians have taken us by our words that we are going to do things differently.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Highlighting the NPP’s failures, President Mahama attributed the ruling party’s electoral losses to arrogance, incompetence, and an unwillingness to address the challenges faced by Ghanaians.
He cautioned his party against repeating these errors, stating, “There’s no use fighting for political power if we are coming to repeat the same mistakes that the NPP did.”
The President expressed concern over incidents that mirror the chaotic takeover of state installations witnessed in 2017 following the NDC’s electoral defeat, asserting that there is no need for the party to repay the sins of the past.
“I know that in 2017, that is what the NPP did after we lost that election. As soon as we handed over power, they started to attack government offices, drive people out, take over tollbooths, take over public toilets, etc. We must not do the same thing. Let us show Ghanaians that we’re different.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Responsible Engagement of Party Youth
Acknowledging the sacrifices of party youth who contributed to the NDC’s “historic victory,” President John Dramani Mahama urged regional and constituency executives to ensure that their contributions are recognized in a structured and lawful manner.
“What we must do is to compile a list of these people for us to identify the possibilities available so that we can engage their useful energy when things settle,” he said. He discouraged the unlawful occupation of state facilities, including the opening of fertilizer depots and warehouses. “Rather than taking the law into our own hands, let’s show NPP that we are different,” he urged.
President Mahama called on the regional and constituency executives of the ruling National Democratic Congress to call the party’s supporters especially young people to order “so that we can do this in an organised fashion.”
President Mahama also underscored the importance of maintaining law and order, warning that the party’s failure to act responsibly could result in intervention by the security services.
“If this continues, we cannot let law and order break down, so we’ll have to call the security services to come and protect those sensitive installations. And we didn’t want that to happen. So let us on our own bring things to order for the safety of all Ghanaians.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President’s message reflects a strategic vision aimed at positioning the NDC as a disciplined and responsive alternative to the NPP. By urging unity and adherence to the rule of law, President Mahama seeks to reassure Ghanaians of the party’s commitment to ethical governance.
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