Some delegates of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region are warning the leadership of the NDC that the people of the region would stay away from the 2020 election if the party elects former President Mahama as its Flagbearer for 2020.
At a press conference held recently, the delegates said the people in the NDC’s stronghold feel betrayed by the former President’s vote in favour of the creation of one of the six new regions by the Akufo-Addo government.
“The vibes we have picked from among our people are not positive towards former President John Mahama. Our people feel that even though he did not cast his vote in the Volta region to support the carving of Oti out of the Volta, his ‘yes’ vote for the creation of the Savanna region added to the justifications by the Akufo-Addo government, whose motive in creating Oti was purely sinister and political,” the group said.
Mr. P. Dzidzienyo, spokesperson for the group who read the statement while flanked by Makafui Mensah and Kudjo Agama, therefore advised the NDC “to do everything possible to ensure that we do not elect the man who has become unpopular in our stronghold.”
During the referendum to create six additional regions, the former President who is vying to lead the NDC again voted ‘YES’ in support of the creation of the Savanna region out of the Northern region.
The ‘Yes,’ vote had been deliberately displayed by Mr. Mahama for the cameras, which captured it and put it on social media.
“Shockingly, our former President had made that reckless revelation knowing very well that Volta, our traditional stronghold, was deeply divided over the carving of Oti out of it, as part of the new regions. We are not judging Mr. Mahama guilty for exercising his right to universal adult suffrage, but why did he display the vote for the whole world to see?
“Even though he did not vote in the Volta Region many think that he had clearly demonstrated his support for what Akufo-Addo was doing to our stronghold,” Mr. Adjafor said.
He pointed out that in addition to the displeasure that Mr. Mahama’s action had caused Voltarians, “he had also openly violated Article 49(1) of the 1992 constitution a thing that is totally unbecoming of a former President.”
Article 49 (1) states, “At any public election or referendum, voting shall be by a secret ballot”.
Mr. Mahama is reported to have even gone ahead to donate GH¢50, 000 towards the creation of the Savanna region.
“Voltarians have since not been happy with Mr. Mahama whose neglect of our stronghold led to many of them not voting in the 2016 election that led to our humiliating defeat. They are saying that if we elect him again, they will stay away again.
“NDC, the ball is in our court!” Mr. Adjafor said to wild applause by the audience of the heavily attended press conference.
