Election 2020: Mahama pledges to abstain from politics of insults, name calling

The 2020 flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to abstain from politics of insults and name-calling in the electioneering campaign.

“These unprovoked attacks and insults and lies have already started. But I can assure you and all Ghanaians that Naana Jane and myself will never engage in insults and name-calling of our opponents.

In his address at the introduction of his running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the Christian Council, the former President said his ticket would not insult their opponents to score political points.

“Our children are watching and listening and copying what we do. It is important that we continue to serve as good role models,” he told the council on Wednesday.

Taking encouragement from the Bible, the NDC Presidential candidate said: “the book of Philippians assures me that the Lord who has begun this mission will continue it to a fruitful conclusion”.

The former President also accused the Akufo-Addo led government of meddling in the affairs of autonomous state institutions such as the judiciary.

According to him, the government’s intimidation of the media threatens the country’s democracy.

“Without mincing words, I must state that we are in danger of losing our way and today. Our country is at the crossroads in our democratic dispensation. We used to be the shining light and point of reference in Africa when it comes to the independence and integrity of our democratic institutions.

“Today, all these gains we proudly achieved as a people, as a country are being eroded and setting us back several decades… The future generation of young people that we are nurturing, teaching, and preparing to take over from us have been deliberately perverted because of the insatiable desire to stay in power at all cost.

“No matter where we have belonged on the political divide, this is the time for us to unite and act together to save our country. We cannot sit silently and look on as our nation slips towards dictatorship,” he added.

Mahama’s opponents, in the New Patriotic Party, have often called him incompetent.  But in September last year, he insisted he was not bothered about the tag.