General News of Monday, 6 November 2017

Source: 3news.com

Enough of the propaganda - Mahama tells government

Former President John Dramani Mahama play videoFormer President John Dramani Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has charged President Akufo-Addo and his government to exhibit a sense of leadership and shun what he describes as excessive propaganda.

He was addressing NDC supporters at Cape Coast where the party held the Central regional “Unity Walk” on Sunday.

In his address, the former president insisted that it was time Nana Akufo-Addo told Ghanaians the true state of affairs in the country instead of indulging in propaganda.

Being in opposition is different from being in power, 3news.om’s Thomas Vincent Cann reported Mr. Mahama as advising his successor.

“We are living the lives, so you can’t come and tell me that my life is better when I can see that my life is getting worse, so there is a limit to the propaganda you can do,” he said.

Mr. John Mahama also urged the media to put the government on its toes by pointing out its flaws as was done to the NDC when the party was in power.

Meanwhile, he has called on NDC supporters to remain calm whilst the party takes steps to officially open nominations for the flagbearership position.

He was hopeful the unity walk, which has already been held in Tamale and Accra, will help restructure the part for the 2020 elections.

Flagbearer Contest He also spoke about persons who have expressed interest in leading the NDC in the 2020 presidential election.

“I know there are several of my colleagues who have declared an intention to run. They are all party members and they are eligible to stand.

“Let me caution: after the flag bearer contest, whoever wins, all of us will have to rally round to support that person.

And, so, please let us not go personal, let us not insult each other because all of us belong to the same NDC family, and, so, if anybody has declared to stand it is his right to do so.

Don’t insult him because, at the end of the process, all of us need to come together to support whoever wins as the flagbearer.

“I have no problem with any of my colleagues. Spio was my minister, I worked as his deputy minister and then he became my colleague …and then when I was in government he worked as my minister of state, I can’t have any problem with Spio.

I can’t have any problem with Joshua. Joshua was my colleague, we went to parliament the same year and we were in parliament together.

“When he became Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, he invited me for so many programmes in UPSA, so today I can’t have a problem with Joshua. Sylvester was in parliament with me; we were colleagues in parliament, he worked at our NHIS CEO. After that, he came as a presidential staffer at the Flagstaff House. I hope nobody takes offence that I didn’t mention some other people, Atubiga is my favourite presidential candidate.”

Sunday’s walk began from the Robert Mensah Stadium at Siwdo in Cape Coast with party bigwigs including former ministers and government appointees actively participating in it.

Amidst singing and dancing, the crowd walked through some principal streets of Cape Coast; the Starlet 91 road to Kotokuraba through to Tantri, Brofoyedur and Ntsin, ending at London bridge where some party stalwarts addressed the gathering.