The resounding victory of John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December 7 polls has not only sent shockwaves to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) but re-written history in Ghana’s political landscape.
Spokesperson on Gender and Social Protection on the NDC’s manifesto committee, Shamima Muslim touts the President-elect’s victory and re-election as a gift to celebrate the Christmas festivities.
She believes the President’s humble personality puts him out as a leader who would restore confidence in Ghana’s economy and push for the nation’s development.
She was responding to concerns over Mr. Mahama’s position as a “Supreme Leader” with a commanding majority in parliament.
“Mahama asked us to desist from calling him supreme leader. This is the humility of the man, JM. This is our Christmas gift from God, John Mahama,” she told host of Luv in the Morning, David Akuetteh.
Mr. Mahama’s landslide win and his party, the NDC, sweeping the majority of the seats in parliament, many believe, hands the former president a supreme position to run government affairs smoothly.
But Ms. Shamima explains the incoming government will not abuse its power and rather ensure accountability.
“Him as a person we must trust, and he would ensure the same accountability from the people that he is working with. He assured the Chief Imam and the people of Ghana that he is not going to abuse that majority,” she said.
However, Ms. Muslim acknowledges the challenge ahead to turn the economic fortunes from what the president-elect describes as an “abyss”.
But she believes the Mahama-Opoku Agyemang government will be able to rescue the nation from the economic quagmire.
“We know we have high expectations. We know we must crawl before we run. Because to reset means, we must pull ourselves from the pit we currently find ourselves in. And pulling ourselves is not a one-day thing. It will take us time to pull us out of this deep hole,” she said.
Ms. Muslim is requesting the President-elect to lay off any government appointee who fails to deliver on their mandate and attempts any form of corruption or is embroiled in scandals.
“He should let the person go. This is a great lesson. Akufo-Addo kept people on for 8 years. Power corrupts absolutely. In his first term not a single reshuffle even in the face of major transgressions. I believe that President Mahama will not let his appointees go scot-free if embroiled in scandals,” she admonished.
She believes these scandalous acts were part of reasons Ghanaians voted out the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia led administration.
Ms. Muslim explains a victory for their main opponent, NPP, would have come as a surprise to her and many party sympathizers given the
“It would have been a shocker if the NPP won. Because what will be the justification that the government that has arguably performed so poorly in comparison to all previous governments will be justified for a renewed mandate. Had they performed better than all previous governments, then we would say if they won it won’t be a surprise. So, we knew we were cruising to victory,” she said.
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