Mahama Flags Off Campaign

Former President John Mahama of Ghana on Thursday,02, March 2023 officially launched a campaign to join in the race for the country’s number office on the platform of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) in the 2024 presidential elections, saying his experience could help salvage the economy.

The incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo had in the 2016 and 2020 elections, defeated Mahama, 64 who said he had decided to run again

“At this stage, Ghana demands experience and not experiment,” he told supporters clad in the party’s green, red, black, and white colours in the NDC’s Volta Region stronghold.

“Ghana needs a leader who will hit the ground running on 7 January 2025,” he said, referring to the inauguration following the December 7, 2024, ballot.

“We will continue and bring to a conclusion the constitutional review that was begun by the late President Atta Mills which will include a review of the controversial Article 71. To reduce the number of office holders under Article 71 and reduce the disparities, privileges and emoluments vis-à-vis the public sector and civil service,” he said.

Mahama added, “The payment of ex-gratia of the Executive under Article 71 will be scrapped.”

This will be the second attempt that Mahama will make to return to power.

The former president also joins former Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu and businessman, Ernest Kwaku Krobea for the flagbearer position of the opposition NDC.

The NDC will hold primaries on May 13 to elect its presidential candidate. Mahama is being challenged by three others, including a former finance minister, Kwabena Duffuor.

Mahama said it cannot be business as usual and promised to cut the size of government and expenditure if he wins.

He also pledged to probe the current government’s spending, including the expenditure of funds to help with the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ghana is struggling with inflation at more than 50 percent in January and a sharply devalued cedi currency, hit hard by the effects of the global pandemic and fallout from the Ukraine war.

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