Mahama wasn’t persuaded to concede defeat in 2016 polls – Julius Debrah

Former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah has rejected claims that former President John Mahama was persuaded before conceding defeat during the 2016 general elections.

“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,” Mr. Debrah said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Julius Debrah issued the disclaimer against the backdrop of claims by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that he intervened during the December 2016 general elections for losing parties to accept the results.

According to him, the decision was to promote the nation’s peace and cohesion as a beacon of democracy.

“At the conclusion of the last Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the country stood on the edge of disaster. The UN community and the diplomatic corps were aghast and alarmed that Ghana was about to slip down the slope of electoral violence. Fortunately, the moral authority of the Palace was at hand and we were able to intervene to persuade the losing candidate to accept his fate and to fly both candidates for a quiet encounter to pave the way for a smooth handover. These are the highest examples of the crucial roles behind the curtains when the moral force of traditional authority is harnessed to protect and sustain the peace, unity and security of Ghana,” Otumfuo explained when he spoke at a UN conference recently.

But Julius Debrah argued that Mr. Mahama called Nana Akufo-Addo to concede defeat and congratulate him on his own volition.

“On the day President Mahama willingly conceded defeat, he met with then Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah- Arthur, NDC Chairman Kofi Portuphy, 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.”

“Following the meeting with the party, he called a number of personalities including President Jerry John Rawlings, President John Agyekum Kufuor, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, National Chief Imam Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, Rev. Ernest Agyei of the Ringway Assemblies of God Church and Archbishop Duncan Williams,” Mr. Debrah recounted.

Below is Julius Debrah’s full statement: