Don’t be too happy about NPP’s defeat, Ghanaians are measuring us with same yardstick – Mahama tells NDC

President-elect John Dramani Mahama has said that Ghanaians will measure the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the same yardstick that they used to measure the outgoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

To that end, he has cautioned the NDC supporters against overly rejoicing about the defeat of the NPP.

Speaking in a meeting with the  Ghana Pentecostal & Charismatic Council, he said “We should not be too happy about the defeat of the NPP because Ghanaians are measuring with the same yardstick. Ghanaians have always held the NDC to a higher standard because we are a social democracy and they are a property-owning democracy.”

Regarding the expectation of Ghanaians from Mr Mahama, Ningo-Prampram lawmaker Samuel Nartey George, who has been re-elected in the 2024 general elections, stated that there are significant expectations on the shoulders of President-elect John Dramani Mahama.

He emphasised that only divine guidance can enable Mr Mahama to steer the nation successfully.

Speaking on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, December 14, about the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) victory in the 2024 polls, he said:

“It humbles me to know that the people, who have taught Akufo-Addo a lesson in humility, will in four years return to the polls. President Mahama, along with all his appointees and those of us in government, must understand that we hold power in trust for the Ghanaian people. Ultimate power belongs to the people of Ghana.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. The expectations Ghanaians have placed on us are immense. I was speaking with a few senior clergymen we worked with during the lead-up to this election, and they noted the need to counsel and pray even more for [John Mahama] because of the weight of the expectations on his shoulders. Only God can guide him to lead this country right, given the colossal mess and the gargantuan damage we are inheriting.”

Regarding the expectations, Convener of the Fix the Country Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has told president-elect John Dramani Mahama that he will have no excuses for failing the people of Ghana following the historic victory in the 2024 general elections.

In a post on his Facebook page, he said “Mahama got 56 percent of the popular vote. 14 out of 16 regions. 68 percent of the military vote. And 80 percent of the police vote. Over 2/3rds majority in Parliament. A President who is a one term president and so has no reelection concerns. A person who has presidential experience; and so can hit the ground running from day 1.

“Listen, it took 32 years, 8 regular election cycles and 2 run off elections, for us to get here. We may likely never be here again. So hear me when I say, this is a mandate for Constitutional Reform! This is a mandate for probity and accountability, if I ever saw one. A mandate to build a legacy no one has ever been able to build, apart from Nkrumah.

“If the trust of the Ghanaian voter is wasted, I am not sure we can ever ever again, get Ghana anywhere close to its vision. We are prepared to give the new President a mandate from the streets too. Bigger than Jerry got in ‘ 79. All the Ghanaian has to give, we have given! There can be no excuses this time. Wallahi, Only the NDC can sabotage the NDC at this rate.”

Meanwhile, Mr John Dramani Mahama has told the United Nations (UN) that his party, the National Democratic Congress which has given birth to the yet-to-be sworn-in administration made several promises during the campaign season.

However, he said, they will need to look at what the reality is in terms of sitting together and seeing what the way forward is.

In a meeting with United Nations Resident Coordinator Charles Abani on Tuesday, December 11, he said “So we look forward to working with you. Looking at the existing programmes we need to tweak them to meet the realities of today.

“I believe we have had discussions with the World Bank and the IMF already and we look to an early engagement so that we can continue to be on the wavelength. Of course in the campaign several promises were made, we need to look at what the reality is in terms of sitting together and seeing what the way forward is. Of course one of our main concerns is the issue of the debt repayments, we need to see how we can smooth them so that we don’t default again which will be more catastrophic than that currently defaulting.”

The UN Boss had said “Our real purpose here is to congratulate you for your victory to thank you for the way you led your party to a successful, peaceful election year in Ghana particularly as the international community had its eyes on Ghana to continue to hold up the torch of Ghana.

“Your ascension to office also brings you the first female vice president ever to Ghana, congratulations on that success. This is to assure you that UN stands fully with you and fully with Ghana, we know your presidency is just about to unfold, I can assure you of our collaboration. thank you.”

Responding to him, Mr Mahama further said Ghana and the UN have had a long-standing relationship. He expressed the will to deepen this relationship.

“I really appreciate it.  Ghana has long-standing relations with all the agencies under the UN and having been president before I know the work we did together. we need you more than ever before because of the crisis we still face or going through. I have had the opportunity to meet some of you even during the campaign, I have expressed our want for us to work even closer together to see how we can put our Ghana back on its feet.  Of course, we all know that Ghana is very important in the geopolitics of  West Africa and Africa in terms of upholding democracy and being the model of peace and security, it is something that we want to restore as quickly as possible

“So we look forward to working with you. Looking at the existing programmes we need to tweak them to meet the realities of today. I believe we have had discussions with the World Bank and the IMF already and we look to an early engagement so that we can continue to be on the wavelength. Of course in the campaign several promises were made, we need to look at what the reality is in terms of sitting together and seeing what the way forward is. Of course one of our main concerns is the issue of the debt repayments, we need to see how we can smooth them so that we don’t default again which will be more catastrophic than that currently defaulting,” he said.

He added “we know that in the last five years, the rainfall pattern was very erratic and so we are anticipating that there is going to be some problems with the availability of food and so, how we are able to quicken support to ameliorate the situation is something that we will like to work on with all the other agencies, UNICEF, UNHCR , we are happy to continue to engage to see how we can uplift the cooperation and the work that we do together.

“I don’t kid myself that it is going to be an easy task, it is going to be quite tough. I anticipated that we were going to win but I didn’t anticipate the margin by which we were going to win , that is an indication that Ghanaians have a very high expectations and so in managing that expectation, I am trying to work as quickly as possible to meet those expectations.”