Francis Doku: From grudge to vote, why I voted for John Mahama

In 2016, I cast voted for Nana Akufo-Addo. Not because I was enthralled by the NPP’s platform or promises in their manifesto, but because the CPP’s Ivor Kobina Greenstreet’s manifesto left me unmoved, and I had sworn off John Dramani Mahama entirely. The reason? The Montie 3 saga.

Let me explain. Among all the controversies of Mahama’s presidency – dumsor included – nothing irked me more than the pardon of the three men who disrespected the judiciary and Chief Justice Georgina Wood with brazen audacity. President Mahama’s decision to remit the sentences of Salifu Maase, aka Mugabe; Alistair Nelson; and Godwin Ako Gunn from four months to one month was fuelled by ministers, deputy ministers, and every notable NDC bigwig appealing to the president to act – and he listened to them.

Legend has it that Mahama’s own legal adviser, Tony Lithur, advised against the pardon. Yet, Mahama forged ahead. To make matters worse, the Montie 3 were nearly done serving their sentence. It felt like a direct slap to the face of justice, and I thought, “Nope, not this guy.” So, my presidential vote went to Nana Addo. As for Parliament, I was loyal to my CPP roots and voted for the candidate at Abokobi-Madina, fully aware it was a lost cause.

Fast forward to 2020. My grudge against Mahama over the Montie 3 still held strong. Greenstreet, once again, failed to stir my interest (poor CPP; my heart beats for them, but not enough to gamble my vote – never mind that I had gambled it many times before on CPP candidates such as “Comfort” Aggudey, Prof. Hagan, and Papa Kwesi Nduom). So, I happily sang Sii sii sii, sii Nana koo… and voted for Nana Addo. Among other things, Nana’s Year of Return initiative appealed to me, given my efforts to promote Ghana as a top tourist destination. Plus, I believed COVID-19 had disrupted his plans, and he deserved another shot. Bad decision!

At Adenta, however, I was on a mission to unseat Yaw Buaben Asamoah, so I voted for Ramadan – and he won! Small personal victories like that are the spice of life.

By 2022, though, my tune had shifted dramatically. By the time the next election rolled around, not even Angel Gabriel could have convinced me to vote for the NPP again. I began re-examining Mahama and the Montie 3 saga. In hindsight, other administrations had committed worse offenses. Nana Addo’s inaction on party thuggery – like the audacious storming of courts and attacks on judges – made Mahama’s error seem mild in comparison.

The galamsey crisis, Nana’s defence of Akonta Mining, and the pardoning of presidential staffers accused of benefiting from galamsey, the disgraceful treatment of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the land-grabbing scandals under Sir John’s tenure at the Forestry Commission, and the stash of money discovered in Cecilia Dapaah’s house (among other corruption allegations) were the final nails in the coffin for the NPP for many.

For many, the NPP government had become too arrogant, vindictive, and tone-deaf. They weaponised their foot soldiers and security personnel (most of whom were untrained party apparatchiks) to “deal” with any dissenting views both within and outside the party and in the media. Ordinary people could not criticise their own government without being called NDC or nation-wreckers. It was so bad many kept mute, with their kose kose in their heads till election day. Concerned Ghanaians couldn’t even talk about the dangers of galamsey on the environment and people’s health without it being construed as political rationalisation and being vilified for it.

Then came the economic collapse and the banking sector cleanup. The NPP, led by Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister and Dr. Bawumia as head of the Economic Management Team, managed to nosedive spectacularly. The same Bawumia who grilled Amissah-Arthur with 170 questions now deflected blame with vague “digital this, digital that” responses.

In fact, given how badly the NPP had performed economically under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government in eight years, it would be very unconscionable to trust them with another four years. Plus, Bawumia’s bad judgement in appointing Napo as his vice-presidential candidate needed to be punished too, even if (or especially if) he was forced on him. The man was a loose cannon who did more harm than good to his campaign.

I’ve heard some reasons ascribed by party people to their loss, and while many are very silly, none is more so than the claim that the majority of Christian Ghanaians didn’t want a Muslim president. That is nonsense.

So, who was I going to vote for? The CPP? I couldn’t even decipher what their flagbearer, Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa, was saying during the campaign. Mahama, on the other hand, seemed chastened and reflective. I decided it was time to forgive him, erase the line in the sand, and cast my vote his way.

Even though I travelled to South Africa on November 29th, I made sure my return ticket was for December 6th. Voting for Mahama and Ramadan again was non-negotiable. Akosua Manu, the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, had done a lot, including donating air conditioners to my church and being an Old Girl of my favourite girls’ high school, Wesley Girls’, but my vote wasn’t going to go to her – not after what her party had done to Ghana.

Now here we are, with Mahama as president-elect. My one vote contributed to his victory. Sure, he would’ve won without it, but hey, every vote counts! Hopefully the NPP would learn the lessons of this loss and should they come back to power (which they would in the future) they will do right by themselves and the people of Ghana.

So what are my (and I believe many other Ghanaians’) expectations of President Mahama?

• Fix the Economy Like It Owes You Money: Stabilise the cedi, curb inflation, and create jobs. No more reliance on IMF bailouts – prove that Ghana can stand on its own, fulfilling the “Ghana Beyond Aid” vision once touted by the NPP government.
• Be the Corruption Terminator: Take tough action against corruption, no matter the rank or connection of those involved. The Montie 3 pardon should be a reminder to maintain a firm moral compass.
• Give Dumsor a Permanent Funeral: Finish ongoing energy projects, diversify power sources, and ensure a reliable electricity supply. Remember how that caused the party the 2016 elections.
• Make Ghana a Unified WhatsApp Group: Build national cohesion, respect dissenting views, and ensure no region or voice feels left behind.
• Respect the Rule of Law: Uphold the independence of the judiciary and ensure the integrity of the legal system. Don’t do what the NPP did by stuffing the bench with acolytes and party people and in the process creating what infamously became known as “Unanimous FC”.
• Strengthen Free SHS: Free SHS is not a bad policy, it was just wrongly implemented. Mahama should review the policy and then improve infrastructure, education quality, and teacher support to make Free SHS truly transformative.
• Establish a 24-Hour Economy: This was the overriding campaign promise and it would serve the NDC well to mplement policies to support round-the-clock business operations, create jobs for night-shift workers, and position Ghana as a regional hub.
• Promote Ghana as a Tourism Powerhouse: Develop and implement robust strategies to make Ghana a leading destination for tourism in Africa. Build on initiatives like the Year of Return, invest in infrastructure, and create an enabling environment for private sector involvement. Showcase Ghana’s culture, heritage, and natural attractions to the world.

As Mahama prepares to take office once again, it’s clear that his political journey has been anything but straightforward. After losing the 2016 election, he made another attempt in 2020 but fell short. However, this time, he has returned with a resounding victory, securing not only the presidency but also a commanding majority in Parliament with over two-thirds of the seats. This overwhelming support signals that Ghanaians are ready for a fresh start under his leadership.

Yet, the opportunity is fleeting. With only a four-year term ahead, Mahama faces immense pressure to deliver. This is his chance to solidify a lasting legacy, to improve the conditions of the country, and to ensure that his successor inherits a better Ghana. The expectations are high, and any misstep could lead to a tarnished reputation, one that Ghanaians may not be willing to forgive. For the NDC, this is a crucial moment – failures now could spell long-term consequences for the party’s future. The stakes are high, and the time for action is now.

By Francis Doku

 

The post Francis Doku: From grudge to vote, why I voted for John Mahama first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story