President John Dramani Mahama has eulogized his now predecessor Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as he recalled their intriguing journey together in politics.
The President recollected their entry into Parliament in the 90s and how both of them rose to become leaders of their respective parties and subsequently, the country.
He further recalled their succession to the presidency and how they both handed power to each at different points in time.
This he described as “ a unique historical distinction”, highlighting the cordial relationship that exists between them.
“Nana Akufo-Addo and I began our national political careers in Parliament in the same year 1996. He has always greeted me with warmth, a firm handshake and a smile and he perhaps the only person in my life, who has persistently chosen to call me Johnny.”
Eulogizing the fifth President of Ghana, he said of him, “While we belong to opposing political parties, we shared a sense of mutual respect”.
He added, “I have to say that you have without exceptions been a worthy opponent”.
President John Dramani said this at his swearing-in as the sixth President of Ghana.
John Mahama rose to become President in 2012 following the death of the then President Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills and went ahead to win that year’s election against Akufo-Addo and served until 2017 when he was ousted in the December 2016 election by the immediate past President.
He subsequently made an attempt for a comeback in 2020 but was unsuccessful.
He, however, clinched a decisive victory in the just ended election, staging a historic comeback.
