The office of the former President John Dramani Mahama has denied the allegations that he was persuaded to accept defeat in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential elections.
In a statement reacting to a viral address by His Majesty the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the United Nations (UN) High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace, the office of the former President said the decision to concede to Nana Akufo-Addo was taken by President Mahama without any influence from the Otumfuo.
Making reference to the address, the statement signed by former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, denied any suggestions that the Otumfuo persuaded Mahama to concede defeat in the 2016 Presidential Election.
“I was associated closely with all the pre, during and post 2016 poll events. I state without equivocation that the decision to concede and congratulate Nana Akufo-Addo even before the official results were declared was taken by President Mahama himself without any persuasion from any quarter,” the statement said.
“It is public knowledge that President Mahama willingly announced his decision to accept the outcome of the 2016 elections and congratulate Nana Akufo-Addo even before the official results were formally declared by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission”.
Meetings
The statement further disclosed that before conceding defeat, Mr Mahama met with then-Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah- Arthur, NDC Chairman Kofi Portuphy, and General Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia, together with some high ranking members of the party and informed them of his decision to call and congratulate Nana Akufo-Addo.