John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has vowed that his party will run a campaign based on truth and transparency in its bid to regain power in the next elections.
Mahama emphasized that his administration, if elected, would be forthright with Ghanaians, focusing on restoring public trust in the country’s democratic system. His comments come amidst growing concerns about the disconnect between political promises and their fulfillment, which he attributed to the increasing disenchantment with democracy, especially among the youth.
“Today, many of the youth are losing trust in democracy, so we need a government that will be truthful to the people. Whatever happens, tell the people the truth. Don’t make promises you can’t fulfill. Say what you can do for us to vote for you.
“But some have made up their minds to say whatever they want to hear, and even if they are not able to fulfill it after winning the polls, that’s okay. That is what is dwindling our trust in democracy.”
John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
During his campaign tour, the former president stressed that the NDC would be honest about its plans and policies, ensuring that Ghanaians are not misled with promises that cannot be fulfilled.
According to Mahama, this is crucial to rebuilding the trust of the people in the political process, which has been eroded over time due to unkept promises by political figures.
Mahama highlighted that political deception has become rampant in Ghana’s democratic process, leading to widespread disillusionment, particularly among the youth, who are starting to question the efficacy of democracy in addressing their needs and aspirations.
“The NDC will campaign on truth. We will administer the nation on truth, and I am hopeful that we will emerge victorious in the polls. My promise to Ghanaians is to work hard for you, I’ll be truthful to you always and open up the realities to you at all times.”
John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
This commitment, Mahama argued, is essential to countering the growing cynicism about the political process in the country, where many feel that politicians often make promises during election campaigns that they have no intention of fulfilling once in office.
The former president stressed that this approach is what distinguishes the NDC from other parties, whose tactics he claims contribute to the erosion of faith in democratic governance.
Rising Youth Unemployment: A National Challenge
In addition to his pledge for honesty in governance, Mahama reiterated his concerns about the rising unemployment rates, particularly among young graduates.
“If we don’t look at the many unemployed graduates in the country, it will become a yoke for us. If you look at the recent incident in Kenya, where the youth said they couldn’t bear it anymore, we need to tackle ours before it becomes something else.”
John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Unemployment, especially among the youth, has been a growing issue in Ghana, with many young people struggling to find jobs after completing their education.
Mahama underscored the importance of addressing this issue before it reaches a breaking point, noting that prolonged neglect of the situation could lead to social unrest similar to what was witnessed in other African countries.
One of Mahama’s key messages was the need to restore trust in the democratic process, which he believes has been damaged by unfulfilled promises and the perception that politicians are not accountable to the people.
He noted that the erosion of trust in democracy is particularly concerning among the youth, who represent the future of the nation and its political system.
“Because people have chosen to lie their way to power, the youth are gradually losing trust in democracy. This is something my administration intends to avoid. We want to restore the trust of the system of government to the people.”
John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
He further called on his political opponents to refrain from making unrealistic promises in their campaigns, arguing that doing so only serves to undermine the credibility of the political system and deepen the cynicism felt by many Ghanaians.
In his speech to residents of the Bono region, Mahama urged his opponents to adopt a more responsible approach to campaigning, cautioning them against the temptation to make grand promises that are impossible to keep once in office.
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