I haven’t attacked Mahama; just telling NDC members the truth – Bagbin to critics

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has denied attacking the personality of the former President of the land, John Drama I Mahama, when he stormed the Volta Region last week to begin his campaign to contest the vacant flagbearer position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a written rebuttal to suggestions from some quarters of the NDC that he is running a campaign characterized with personality attacks, especially, on the former Ghana Leader, Hon. Bagbin said those suggestions are far from the truth, directing anybody with doubts to get his campaign audio tapes from his media team for verification.

His campaign, he noted, has been clean since all the places he has visited, he only tells them the truth and happenings in the NDC which calls for change.

“It is worth reminding readers that I assured the party through the General Secretary in my letter of intent, to conduct a decent, decorous and mature campaign. I am committed to that. I also informed the General Secretary of my obligation to share the right information from 1992 to date to empower members of the party to make the right decisions. I do not refer to the specific Presidents unless it is a specific issue of policy of governance. If it is the case of a strategy of the anti-NDC media, to cause division and hatred amongst members of the party, you have offered yourselves as willing tools for that purpose. Even before you slaughter a chicken you give it water to drink”, he noted in a response to the concerns raised by some NDC party functionaries about the way he is going about his campaign.

Below is the full written response from the Nadowli/Kaleo legislator

Good morning fellow Akatamansonians. I have taken time to read all your comments. I respect your views on what you read from the tabloids.

There is no where in my message I made mention of Mahama boys.

All the meetings I held, the overwhelming verdict of the members, definitely made up of Alabi, Sly, Spio, Mahama, Atubiga and Agbemava supporters not just Bagbin supporters alone, was very good.

At all these meetings the unanimous verdict was a thunderous applause. Where some of my team members slipped, the members never failed to point it out there and then.

Please I experienced, as the then Minority Leader, the campaigns between Prof Mills and Dr Botchway in 2003.

Again, in the same position, I experienced the GAME/FONKA campaign in 2006. We all know the lasting effects of the fallouts of those contests on our Party.

It is my duty as a loyal and committed member of our great party to remind the audience of the effect of those contests and share my experiences with members. Which I did relentlessly.

It is worth reminding readers that I assured the Party through the General Secretary in my Letter of Intent, to conduct a decent, decorous and mature campaign.

I am committed to that. I also informed the General Secretary of my obligation to share the right information from 1992 to date to empower members of the Party to make the right decisions.

I do not refer to the specific Presidents unless it is a specific issue of policy or governance.

If it is the case of a strategy of the anti- NDC media, to cause division and hatred amongst members of the Party, you have offered yourselves as willing tools for that purpose.

Even before you slaughter a chicken you give it water to drink.

All what I said was capture on tape and camera. I have directed my media team to put it out there for public consumption.

Where I am found to have erred, I am humble enough to apologise. But, at least, I should be given the basic rule of natural justice, audi alterem partem.



I have invested my whole life and resources into NDC. In 2001, a few people in Ghana gave NDC a dog chance of survival.

I was the leader. Our Flagbearer then, Prof Mills had to leave to Canada for one good year. Our Ministers were picked and prosecuted/persecuted.

The remaining took cover. Many openly denounced NDC. Some retired from politics. But, I together with the minority in Parliament soldiered on.

My seniors in Parliament supported me ably to turn things around within two years.

NDC became attractive and a safe haven for members to return and non-members to opt for. I have done it before and I can do it again.

If not partly because of the bad Presidential primaries of 2003, NDC would have won the 2004 elections.

I experienced it as the then official opposition leader. Please, I will never want NDC to go that way again.

video=45554>

It was for such an experiences that informed the amendment to our Constitution to allow 24 months between Presidential primaries and general elections to create more space for healing, regrouping and rebranding.

The amendment helped the party to do so and to win elections in 2008.

Tolerance, tolerance is the word. Bitterness, hatred and ill-will have no place in mature politics. It is not even good for your health. Let’s endeavour to shun them.

All what you are reading Statements are cut from here and there names are inserted and some twisted to achieve an aim.

Don’t be influenced by the opposition press.

I never said Mahama left a legacy of hardship, poverty, corruption and a million votes deficit.



I spoke about the verdict of Ghanaians today.

The lost of trust of the people in politicians. The loud cry of hardship and vulgar corruption.

The cynicism of the populace about politics and politicians.

I called for bold and drastic turn around of the way we do things.

I did say what we should focus on is to give hope for the future by exhibiting credibility in the way we talk and do things.

By proposing realistic solutions to the current challenges.

I did propose a number of solutions to stop further haemorrhage of our party and to accelerate national development. I did call for a change.

Change not only of the leader but also the way we do things.

The way we threat our own members when in power. I called for the use of the stick and carrot principle.

I called for amendments to our Constitution. I called for the establishment of a firm foundation to see us win elections 2020 and beyond.

I prayed for the Party to be in power for not less than 16 years after that win. And I thanked the members for their loyalty, commitment and sacrifices.

Please await the airing of the message. Then let me know your candid views. I accept the blame for the delay of my media team in coming out with the true recording of the message I delivered to the chiefs and people of the Volta Region.

Till then God bless you all.

Hon. Alban S.K Bagbin

MP, Nadowli/Kaleo and

Second Deputy Speaker