Former President John Dramani Mahama has recounted that his decision to concede defeat in the 2016 election was born out of his understanding of the will of the people.
This according to him is not the situation with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo whom he has accused of desiring to hang on to power against the will of Ghanaians.
The National Democratic Congress leader who has announced his rejection of the 2020 election results noted that the results of the election is a reflection of a manipulative scheme by the Electoral Commission and the New Patriotic Party to overturn the will of Ghanaians.
“I am a staunch believer in the experiment of democracy, the system of governance that allows the ultimate decision-making power to rest in the hands of you, the good people of Ghana.
We, the people who, with an eye toward to future we would like for our dear country, elect representatives to go forward and realize that vision.
Government serves at the choice, direction, and pleasure of the people of this great nation. And I have had the honor and privilege to serve my country in all levels of government.
When, in 2016, at the end of my first full term as President I ran for re-election as an incumbent candidate, I respected the will of the people.
I conceded, stepped aside, and set in motion a peaceful transfer of power—because I understood that it was the will of the people,” Mr. Mahama said in an address on Thursday.
The former President further noted that the assurances given by the EC for a free, fair and transparent 2020 election did not materialise.
He stated that “The line he treads between his loyalty to the power that is held by the people, and by his own desire to hold on to power, can be a thin one indeed.
We went into the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections with assurances from the Electoral Commission and the relevant state actors that it would be conducted in an atmosphere free from fear, and that it would be fair, transparent, and credible. Unfortunately, that has not been the case”.
