Kufuor punches Mahama; Leadership is not about age

In what can best pass for a veiled response to President John Dramani Mahama’s call for the youth to rally behind him and similar appeal by some groups of people because he (Mahama) represents the new generation of youth in the country, former President John Agyekum Kufuor has openly stated that elections are not about the youth and the aged, but about ideas, policies and programmes directed towards the development of the nation.

Mr Mahama, exactly a week after he was sworn into office as president following the sudden death of President Mills, in a subtle manner, asked the youth in the country to support him, explaining that historically, he is the first President to be born after Ghana’s independence, having been born in 1958.

According to him, even though he was fairly young, God in His infinite wisdom had handed the mantle of national leadership to the post independence generation and thus appealed to the youth to rally behind him so they can prove themselves worthy and creditably to the admiration of the older generation.

But the NPP regarded the president’s comment as disrespectful to Ghanaian leaders who were born before independence, saying Mr Mahama seemed to suggest that the aged lacked ability to galvanise the youth of the country.

According to the NPP, President Mahama defeated his own comments of presenting a youthful team to the Ghanaian electorate, by nominating a vice (Amissah-Arthur) who was more than 60 years old.

Interestingly, a few days ago, a group dubbed “Youth for Mahama (YFM)”, was launched with the aim of ensuring that President Mahama wins the December elections because of his youthfulness and track record of seeking the interest of the youth.

However, last Saturday, whiles addressing thousands of NPP faithfuls at Mantse Agboenaa to herald the official launch of the party’s campaign, the former president literally poured disdain on the rallying cry for the youth to get behind Mr Mahama.

Mr Kufuor pointed out that the age of a president is no guarantee to transforming the lives of the youth, but rather it is the implementation of the right policies and programmes by a good leader that can help the teeming unemployed youth.

“'Not every leader can husband the resources of the nation for wealth creation. The NDC has not been able to do anything with Ghana's resources in three years except to plunder it…The elections are not about young people against old people. If some people claim they are younger, it is not about that. It is about who can do it. Nana Akufo Addo can do it'…The most important thing is how to get a government that will lay the policies and implement them sincerely for the betterment of all Ghanaians; that is what the whole thing is about”, Mr. Kufuor said.

The former president also tasked members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to refuse to talk to people of other political inclinations but to try and convince even their political opponents about the plans the NPP has for the country.