Former President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that Ghanaians are yearning for the return of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because the Akufo-Addo-led government has failed them.
Addressing NDC delegates at Nkwanta North in the Oti Region on Monday, ahead of the party’s primaries next month, he recalled how Ghanaians lived comfortably under the NDC government.
According to him, Ghanaians would have been better off today had they heeded the advice not to vote for the NPP in 2016.
“We advised Ghanaians in 2016 but they didn’t listen. Things were going on well, I’m not saying Ghana was like heaven but when NDC was in power, everyone was comfortable,” Mr. Mahama said in Twi to the teeming supporters.
People, he asserted, were able to earn something from the work they do and could take care of their needs and family, but observed that things are not the same under the current government as prices of goods keep skyrocketing.
The former president pointed out that due to bad governance, the country is now overwhelmed with debts, noting that government is “on its knees begging the world to forgive us our debts”.
He mentioned for instance that cement which used to cost GH¢26 under the NDC in 2016 is selling at GH¢100 in 2023, and therefore questioned how the youth would be able to build.
He also noted that the mass disconnection exercise by the Electricity Company of Ghana is simply because the ordinary person cannot afford to pay for the high tariff.
Former President Mahama recalled that in 2016 Ghanaians castigated his government and called them “wicked” because they claimed electricity was expensive then.
However, the current electricity price which he said many are unable to pay is going to get worse because as part of the IMF conditionalities, tariff would have to be increased every three years.
He has therefore asked delegates in Nkwanta North to give him 100 percent votes in the presidential primary in May 13, 2023 and work hard to increase his votes in the 2024 general elections as compared to what he got in 2020 as he is upbeat about forming the next government in 2025.
He would be competing in the internal election with two others: former Mayor of Kumasi Kojo Bonsu and former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffour.