Tamale in the Northern of Ghana, was the epicenter of political activity today as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) launched its 2024 general elections campaign.
The event, held at Jubilee Park, drew a massive crowd and featured prominent party leaders, including flagbearer John Dramani Mahama, his running mate Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
The campaign, themed “Change to Reset Ghana,” aims to challenge the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming elections.
In a powerful and impassioned speech, former President John Dramani Mahama criticized the current administration led by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Mahama accused the government of living in an illusion, disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary Ghanaians.
“This government is living in a fantasy world. When people are hungry, how can you tell them they are satisfied?” Mahama challenged.
He cited alarming statistics, highlighting that “8 million of our citizens last year went 24 hours without food because they couldn’t afford it.”
Mahama’s speech painted a grim picture of the country’s economic situation, emphasizing rising unemployment and youth disenfranchisement.
“Statistics tell us that almost 2 million of our young people are sitting at home. They are not in school, not in education, not in training, and not in employment,” he said.
Mahama pointed out that unemployment has surged from 8% in 2016 to 14.7%, criticizing the government’s inability to create jobs and provide opportunities for the youth.
The former president did not hold back in analogizing the current administration to Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“How can you compare this useless government that has led Ghana into such a crisis to the government of Kwame Nkrumah?” Mahama asked rhetorically.
He underscored the stark differences, arguing that the current leadership has failed to meet the expectations of Ghanaians.
“If the government is not living in an illusion, what else is an illusion?” he added, pointing to the administration’s economic mismanagement and inflated claims of success.
Mahama’s speech also addressed the broader implications of the upcoming elections, urging Ghanaians to vote for change.
“It’s not about 8 years or 4 years. It is about hard work, truth, and trust. It’s about doing the things that will create a future for our children,” he stated.
Mahama called on the electorate to fulfill their duty to God and country on December 7, promising that an NDC government would turn the nation around.
