 |
| President John Dramani Mahama….Dazed by the outcome of December 7 election |
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Presidential Candidate, Nana Dankwa
Akufor Addo, 72 was on Friday December 9, 2016 declared Ghana’s 5th
President of the Fourth Republic following the outcome of the Wednesday,
December 7, 2016 presidential election in the former Gold Coast.
Presidential Candidate, Nana Dankwa
Akufor Addo, 72 was on Friday December 9, 2016 declared Ghana’s 5th
President of the Fourth Republic following the outcome of the Wednesday,
December 7, 2016 presidential election in the former Gold Coast.
The three-time tried Nana Akufor Addo of the NPP polled 5,716, 026 votes to defeat incumbent
President, John Dramani Mahama who
had 4, 713, 277, Ghana’s Electoral
Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei
announced at the end of the rigorous exercise on Friday, 9th of
December, 2016.
President, John Dramani Mahama who
had 4, 713, 277, Ghana’s Electoral
Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei
announced at the end of the rigorous exercise on Friday, 9th of
December, 2016.
According to the Ghana Electoral
Commission’s statistic, Nana Akufo-Addo
got 53.85% of the total vote cast as
against 44.40% recorded by President Mahama.
Commission’s statistic, Nana Akufo-Addo
got 53.85% of the total vote cast as
against 44.40% recorded by President Mahama.
The declaration of Nana Akufo Addo, who failed in previous
attempts in 2008 and 2012 as the winner
of the election brings to an end the era of ‘Johns’ becoming Presidents in Ghana, namely; John Rawlings, John Kufuor,
John Atta-Mills and John Dramani Mahama from 1992 to
2016.
attempts in 2008 and 2012 as the winner
of the election brings to an end the era of ‘Johns’ becoming Presidents in Ghana, namely; John Rawlings, John Kufuor,
John Atta-Mills and John Dramani Mahama from 1992 to
2016.
In these new findings by Asabeafrika, we listed the 10 funny
reasons why President John Dramani
Mahama lost at the poll. Enjoy the
excerpts and learn a lesson or two.
reasons why President John Dramani
Mahama lost at the poll. Enjoy the
excerpts and learn a lesson or two.
 |
| New Man, Nana Akufo-Addo, Incoming President of Ghana |
Change Revolution: The very first reason was the call
for ‘Change’ from Nana
Akufo-Addo,
who described President Dramani Mahama as the ‘most incompetent President’ in
the history of Ghana and a threat to
the future of the country. The 72 years old Nana took his campaign of
‘Change’ to every nook and crannies of Ghana,
promising the youths with jobs, better education and a government free of
corruption. Nana’s ‘One village, one dam,
one district, one factory’
campaign slogan and many other policies made meanings to more Ghanaians,
considering the present situation of things in the country.
for ‘Change’ from Nana
Akufo-Addo,
who described President Dramani Mahama as the ‘most incompetent President’ in
the history of Ghana and a threat to
the future of the country. The 72 years old Nana took his campaign of
‘Change’ to every nook and crannies of Ghana,
promising the youths with jobs, better education and a government free of
corruption. Nana’s ‘One village, one dam,
one district, one factory’
campaign slogan and many other policies made meanings to more Ghanaians,
considering the present situation of things in the country.
Economic Hardship: President Dramani Mahama is said to have been so unfortunate
to have come into office at a time when the Ghanaians were suffering a
harrowing experience. Things were very difficult in the country and it took a
very long time for the Mahama government to put things
under control. The Ghana currency, Cedi for instance, witnessed it biggest
slide during this period and inflation rate skyrocketed to an all time high. In
the last two years, the situation became worse as the county’s finance
minister, Serth Terkper was under severe pressure to reel out massive
overspending and debts levels. The electorates were equally not happy that the IMF
had to come into their country and dictate how government should run the
economy. This situation coupled with a
freeze on unemployment in the public sector and unprecedented unemployment rate
in the country led to a sharp drop in the approval rating of President
John Dramani Mahama. The wide
margin in the number of votes recorded by Mahama and Akufor (about 1 million)
is said to be the highest ever recorded in the history of election in Ghana.
to have come into office at a time when the Ghanaians were suffering a
harrowing experience. Things were very difficult in the country and it took a
very long time for the Mahama government to put things
under control. The Ghana currency, Cedi for instance, witnessed it biggest
slide during this period and inflation rate skyrocketed to an all time high. In
the last two years, the situation became worse as the county’s finance
minister, Serth Terkper was under severe pressure to reel out massive
overspending and debts levels. The electorates were equally not happy that the IMF
had to come into their country and dictate how government should run the
economy. This situation coupled with a
freeze on unemployment in the public sector and unprecedented unemployment rate
in the country led to a sharp drop in the approval rating of President
John Dramani Mahama. The wide
margin in the number of votes recorded by Mahama and Akufor (about 1 million)
is said to be the highest ever recorded in the history of election in Ghana.
No Light in Ghana: It is quite unfortunate that the Mahama
administration will so descend to an all time low by allowing a once buoyant
and always lighted-up country like Ghana
to start witnessing incessant power crisis that rocked the country and nearly paralyzed
so many small scale businesses. This is very rare to Ghana as the country never experienced darkness or taking of light,
even for a minute in almost two decades. But the Dramani’s administration
changed everything as the power crisis rocked all the cities across the country
particularly, the capital—Accra.
Millions of Ghanaians held this against their President.
administration will so descend to an all time low by allowing a once buoyant
and always lighted-up country like Ghana
to start witnessing incessant power crisis that rocked the country and nearly paralyzed
so many small scale businesses. This is very rare to Ghana as the country never experienced darkness or taking of light,
even for a minute in almost two decades. But the Dramani’s administration
changed everything as the power crisis rocked all the cities across the country
particularly, the capital—Accra.
Millions of Ghanaians held this against their President.
‘Dumsor’ as the power crisis is locally referred
to, is a major issue that worked against the Mahama Government. The opposition latched onto this and based a
key part of their campaign on it.
to, is a major issue that worked against the Mahama Government. The opposition latched onto this and based a
key part of their campaign on it.
 |
| Ghana’s Revolution Chief & Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings….His Cold attitude to Dramani gave a dramatic discount on Mr. President’s Political Capital |
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
The Jerry Rawlings Factor: Ex-President Jerry Rawlings should
naturally be President Mahama’s godfather, being a key
founder of the NDC party. Unfortunately, Mahama and Rawlings never enjoyed a
robust relationship since he (Mahama) got into office in 2012, following the
sudden demise of his former boss and predecessor, Professor John Atta-Mills.
The gap between Mahama and the Rawlings family widened during the 2012 election
when Rawlings’s wife and former Ghana’s first lady, Nana Agyeman Konadu Rawlings
formed a new party, NDP on which platform she contested against Mahama.
She contested against him again on the ticket of that same party last
Wednesday. A lot of analysts believe that Mahama’s chances would have been
further bolstered should the Rawlings have thrown their weight behind him.
Although, former President Rawlings still claims to be a member
of the NDC, he was never a part of Mahama’s campaign.
naturally be President Mahama’s godfather, being a key
founder of the NDC party. Unfortunately, Mahama and Rawlings never enjoyed a
robust relationship since he (Mahama) got into office in 2012, following the
sudden demise of his former boss and predecessor, Professor John Atta-Mills.
The gap between Mahama and the Rawlings family widened during the 2012 election
when Rawlings’s wife and former Ghana’s first lady, Nana Agyeman Konadu Rawlings
formed a new party, NDP on which platform she contested against Mahama.
She contested against him again on the ticket of that same party last
Wednesday. A lot of analysts believe that Mahama’s chances would have been
further bolstered should the Rawlings have thrown their weight behind him.
Although, former President Rawlings still claims to be a member
of the NDC, he was never a part of Mahama’s campaign.
The Volta region Factor: President Mahama and his party, the NDC
were let down by their biggest voters’ base, the Volta Region. Over the years, the NDC had always recorded its
victory through the votes from this region. They were however disappointed this
time as voters’ turn out was less than 50%. It is generally believed that the Volterians
felt so dissatisfied with the treatment they got from Mahama during his term in
office. In his concession speech, Mahama highlighted the fact of his
electoral failure in the Volta Region
when he noted painfully “The NDC lost
partly because our stronghold in the Volta Region taught us a lesson we will
never forget. In the NDC, Volta Region sounded like Voter Region. We referred
to the Volta Region as our World Bank, but they turned out to be a DKM Micro
finance bank when it mattered most”.
The outgoing President lamented.
were let down by their biggest voters’ base, the Volta Region. Over the years, the NDC had always recorded its
victory through the votes from this region. They were however disappointed this
time as voters’ turn out was less than 50%. It is generally believed that the Volterians
felt so dissatisfied with the treatment they got from Mahama during his term in
office. In his concession speech, Mahama highlighted the fact of his
electoral failure in the Volta Region
when he noted painfully “The NDC lost
partly because our stronghold in the Volta Region taught us a lesson we will
never forget. In the NDC, Volta Region sounded like Voter Region. We referred
to the Volta Region as our World Bank, but they turned out to be a DKM Micro
finance bank when it mattered most”.
The outgoing President lamented.
The Ethnic Card: The ethnic card also played out in
the election. President Mahama is from the Northern Region, and like he did in the
2012 election, he was expected to win an overwhelming percentage of the votes
from that region. Interestingly, Nana Addo’s party, the NPP gathered
an impressive 45% of the votes in the region. This cuts Mahama’s chances in no
small way. Nana Akufor Addo is from the Central Region and
he won overwhelmingly there. Meanwhile the traditional voter-powerhouse of the
NPP, the Ashanti Region gave almost
80% of the total votes to Nana Akufor Addo. Nana had never
recovered such massive votes from the Ashantis like he did this time.
the election. President Mahama is from the Northern Region, and like he did in the
2012 election, he was expected to win an overwhelming percentage of the votes
from that region. Interestingly, Nana Addo’s party, the NPP gathered
an impressive 45% of the votes in the region. This cuts Mahama’s chances in no
small way. Nana Akufor Addo is from the Central Region and
he won overwhelmingly there. Meanwhile the traditional voter-powerhouse of the
NPP, the Ashanti Region gave almost
80% of the total votes to Nana Akufor Addo. Nana had never
recovered such massive votes from the Ashantis like he did this time.
The Let Down syndrome: In his emotional speech while conceding
defeat on Friday night, outgoing President John Dramani Mahama said “Another important lesson I have learnt
from this defeat is that the success or failure of a leader depends on the kind
of people he or she surrounds himself with. While Rawlings appointed the likes of Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas as deputy ministers, I made the mistake of
giving that respectable position to the likes of Otii Bless. I have now realized rather too late, that if I had kept
the likes Ben Dotsei Malor and Raymond Atugbua around me, they would
have injected some semblance of sanity into the Presidency and given that high
office an aura of respectability and decency. Unfortunately, I did not listen
to the voice of reason. A lot of people
who have called me to comfort me have maintained that I have been let down by
my ministers and the people I trusted so much”. The white haired President
Mahama said some of his ministers soiled the image of his administration,
which further incurred more hatred from the populace.
defeat on Friday night, outgoing President John Dramani Mahama said “Another important lesson I have learnt
from this defeat is that the success or failure of a leader depends on the kind
of people he or she surrounds himself with. While Rawlings appointed the likes of Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas as deputy ministers, I made the mistake of
giving that respectable position to the likes of Otii Bless. I have now realized rather too late, that if I had kept
the likes Ben Dotsei Malor and Raymond Atugbua around me, they would
have injected some semblance of sanity into the Presidency and given that high
office an aura of respectability and decency. Unfortunately, I did not listen
to the voice of reason. A lot of people
who have called me to comfort me have maintained that I have been let down by
my ministers and the people I trusted so much”. The white haired President
Mahama said some of his ministers soiled the image of his administration,
which further incurred more hatred from the populace.
|
| President John Dramani Mahama….Hammered by the Opposition |
The Social Media Factor: It has been said that the 2008
presidential election of the United
States of America’s democratic candidate, President Barrack Obama
was largely won by strategies perfected on the social media and affiliate
platforms. The same thing repeated itself in the recent November 8 election
between Republican Party’s Donald Trump and Democratic Candidate Hilary Clinton. The battles for the soul of USA was majorly fought and won on the various social media
platforms. Despite the one sided press sympathy given to Hillary Clinton by conventional media platforms like CNN and many others, Donald
Trump won her through aggravated sympathy on social media. In NPP’s Nana
Akufor Addo’s battle with NDC’s Dramani Mahama, the war was taken to
the social media where Nana Akufor Addo won gallantly.
During the election, there were concerted efforts to resonate with the youths,
using social media as its most potent weapon. The Nana Akufor Addo’s frequent
campaigns on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp later turned out to be a major breakthrough as the young
voters bought into his dream which such magical penetration. On the other side,
the NDC became a victim of its own success as it relied less on a massive
online campaign instead, choosing to spend heavily on ostentatious public
display of billboards and Television Adverts. Mahama’s campaign
strategy was built on his considerable charm and appeal across the general
voting populace with very little emphasis on the social media. Most of the
younger voters were not enamored enough by the charm of Mr. Dramani and were also
not blown away by the lack of a message in the President’s campaign.
presidential election of the United
States of America’s democratic candidate, President Barrack Obama
was largely won by strategies perfected on the social media and affiliate
platforms. The same thing repeated itself in the recent November 8 election
between Republican Party’s Donald Trump and Democratic Candidate Hilary Clinton. The battles for the soul of USA was majorly fought and won on the various social media
platforms. Despite the one sided press sympathy given to Hillary Clinton by conventional media platforms like CNN and many others, Donald
Trump won her through aggravated sympathy on social media. In NPP’s Nana
Akufor Addo’s battle with NDC’s Dramani Mahama, the war was taken to
the social media where Nana Akufor Addo won gallantly.
During the election, there were concerted efforts to resonate with the youths,
using social media as its most potent weapon. The Nana Akufor Addo’s frequent
campaigns on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp later turned out to be a major breakthrough as the young
voters bought into his dream which such magical penetration. On the other side,
the NDC became a victim of its own success as it relied less on a massive
online campaign instead, choosing to spend heavily on ostentatious public
display of billboards and Television Adverts. Mahama’s campaign
strategy was built on his considerable charm and appeal across the general
voting populace with very little emphasis on the social media. Most of the
younger voters were not enamored enough by the charm of Mr. Dramani and were also
not blown away by the lack of a message in the President’s campaign.
The Corruption Index Factor: It was also believed that the
corruption perception index of Mr. John Dramani Mahama’s
administration was higher than any other regime since the return to full
democratic rule in year 2000. Several issues of corruption by government
officials or friends of the government were said to have either been covered up
or given a cold shoulder by Mr. Mahama’s government. In fact,
under Mr. Mahama who is alleged to have a Nigerian blood and
connection, Corruption Perception index was so high with several survey results
indicating that the populace was very unhappy with the several reported
scandals. Some of the scandals were allegedly spiced with unprecedented level
of inflation in cost of government projects, ghost names on government’s
payrolls and many other administrative insurgencies that finally led to donor
agencies abroad, holding back their grants to the nation. The Corruption
perception index was so high that groups like AFAG and Occupy
Ghana took a stand to stamp out Mr. Dramani Mahama and his cohorts
out of power. This gave the opposition an upper hand and only gave the Mahama
Administration the opportunity to consistently chase situations rather than
being in charge of them. It finally cost them a sack on December 7.
corruption perception index of Mr. John Dramani Mahama’s
administration was higher than any other regime since the return to full
democratic rule in year 2000. Several issues of corruption by government
officials or friends of the government were said to have either been covered up
or given a cold shoulder by Mr. Mahama’s government. In fact,
under Mr. Mahama who is alleged to have a Nigerian blood and
connection, Corruption Perception index was so high with several survey results
indicating that the populace was very unhappy with the several reported
scandals. Some of the scandals were allegedly spiced with unprecedented level
of inflation in cost of government projects, ghost names on government’s
payrolls and many other administrative insurgencies that finally led to donor
agencies abroad, holding back their grants to the nation. The Corruption
perception index was so high that groups like AFAG and Occupy
Ghana took a stand to stamp out Mr. Dramani Mahama and his cohorts
out of power. This gave the opposition an upper hand and only gave the Mahama
Administration the opportunity to consistently chase situations rather than
being in charge of them. It finally cost them a sack on December 7.
 |
| Chief (Dr.) Dele Momodu….Nigeria’s Goodwill Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana; He campaigned for Mr. Dramani Mahama on Twitter. |
Foreigners’
Campaign palaver: Obviously,
President
Dramani Mahama ran a more expensive campaign. Notable Nigerians
including Nigeria’s Goodwill Ambassador to Ghana, Chief (Dr.) Dele Momodu
campaigned for him vigorously on twitter. Nigerian show biz celebrities
including Nkem Owoh (Osofia) were also contacted to campaign for Mr.
Dramani Mahama. The campaign by Nigerians didn’t go down well with a
cross section of Ghanaians and it obviously didn’t work any magic as it could
be seen in the outcome of the election.
