Former President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to end what he describes as the ‘horror movie’ of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia, over the past eight years.
Addressing a governance forum in Accra on Thursday, October 31, Mahama criticized the NPP’s pledge to protect the public purse, labelling it as a deceptive scheme that has instead facilitated the exploitation of Ghana’s resources.
He accused members of the Akufo-Addo administration of greed, alleging that their actions have damaged the environment, including harming the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.
“Ghanaians must end this ‘horror movie’ they have been subjected to over the last eight years,” Mahama stated.
He stressed what he sees as the administration’s failure, citing an increase in corruption, restrictions on freedoms, excessive use of remand custody, and the denial of essential needs like food and medical care.
As the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahama urged Ghanaians to vote out the NPP in the upcoming elections, stressing the need to “reset” the nation.
He argued that only an overhaul of Ghana’s governance system would restore stability and prosperity.
He asserted that the NPP’s tenure has significantly weakened democratic institutions and eroded the democratic progress made since 1992. He criticized the government for a lack of integrity, transparency, and accountability, accusing it of evading responsibility for the country’s hardships.
“They will not accept responsibility for the hardships they have imposed on our society. They still maintain that they are not accountable for skyrocketing the national debt from GH¢120 billion in 2016 to GH¢767 billion in 2024, with little to show for it. Compelling the Central Bank to print over GH¢70 billion has driven inflation to about 54%, leading to a Bank of Ghana loss of over GH¢60 billion,” Mahama said.
The former President emphasized that the core purpose of democratic governance is to improve the lives of all citizens, including vulnerable groups like retirees, people with disabilities, and unemployed youth, in an equitable and sustainable manner.
True democracy, he added, should guarantee freedom of expression without fear of retribution or surveillance by national security operatives.
“In a genuine democracy, citizens—including journalists, security personnel, teachers, and healthcare workers—should be able to work freely without the fear of being misinterpreted or punished for their actions.”
“Phones should not be subject to monitoring, and bad governance, which undermines democracy and threatens inclusive, sustainable development, must be addressed,” Mahama argued.
He acknowledged the growing assertiveness of the Ghanaian people, particularly the youth, who he believes are increasingly unwilling to tolerate superficial politics, divisive rhetoric, and unprincipled leadership.
