The 2024 Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has emphasized to President Akufo-Addo that determining his successor is not within the President’s authority as he prepares to leave office.
Speaking at a ceremony in Damongo, in the Savannah Region, where he laid the foundation stone for a new multipurpose Ndewura Jakpa palace, Mahama reminded the outgoing President that overseeing a peaceful and credible election is the most significant legacy he owes to the people of Ghana.
The project, featuring Malian architectural designs, includes a palace, a residence, and a meeting area, and is being financed by Mahama himself.
Although President Akufo-Addo was present at the ceremony, he had departed before Mahama made these comments directed at him.
“I wish to urge our president; this was my message to Nana Akufo-Addo, unfortunately he has left, and he has left only our member of the council of state on the high table.
“I wish to urge our President that the best legacy he can leave this country, is to superintend over a peaceful, transparent and credible election.”
‘I wish to remind him, that it is God who makes rulers and he can never ever be the one to choose his successor. It is God who will choose his successor “he stated to thunderous cheers from the crowd.
Former President John Dramani Mahama reiterated Ghana’s role as a beacon of democracy in Africa and emphasized the incumbent President’s responsibility to uphold this reputation. He condemned the violent incidents during the 2020 elections, where eight Ghanaians reportedly lost their lives due to alleged shootings by security personnel.
Mahama expressed surprise at the lack of a thorough investigation into the matter, the punishment of the perpetrators, and adequate compensation for the victims’ families. He pledged that if the NDC regains power after the 2024 election, the families of the victims would receive proper compensation.
The new multipurpose Ndewura Jakpa palace project, which features Architect Atibila as the consultant and Grandeza Construction Company Limited as the builders, is scheduled for completion in October 2024.