A video that has gone viral on social media shows a rare moment of cordiality between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The video was taken during the state funeral service for the late NDC stalwart Enoch Teye Mensah, held at the forecourt of the State House. In the video, President Akufo-Addo looks John Mahama in the face, gives him a handshake, pats the back of his hand, exchanges some words with him, and both of them smile. The president then moves on to greet other dignitaries at the event.
This unexpected camaraderie between the leaders of the two major political parties in Ghana stands in stark contrast to their public friction and occasional subtle jabs at each other on various platforms.
Over the years, their interactions have often been marked by tension, exemplified by an incident in 2019 that had social media buzzing.
During the Kofi Annan Peace and Security Summit in Accra, President Akufo-Addo’s seemingly ‘awkward’ handshake with former President Mahama became the focal point of discussions. This incident, along with their other public encounters, contributed to the perception of strained relations between the two political giants.
The recent exchange at E.T. Mensah’s funeral, however, presents a surprising and positive development for supporters of both the NPP and NDC.
As Ghana approaches an election year, the political landscape is likely to witness various bold and subtle gestures. The dynamics between Akufo-Addo and Mahama will undoubtedly be an interesting aspect to observe, offering a potential shift in the narrative leading up to the elections.