Mahama boys under fire

The humiliating defeat suffered by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is unearthing a lot of secrets that were hitherto unknown to the public.

The so-called ‘experienced’ people in the opposition party are all now accusing ex-President John Mahama of running a failed campaign by surrounding himself with ‘young’ and ‘inexperienced’ people; and that led to the party’s crushing defeat during the December 7, 2016 general elections.

Two names that are on the lips of these ‘senior’ NDC members are ex-President Mahama’s trusted aide Stan Dogbe and Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – who was the Minister of Communications, as well as Kofi Adams, 2016 Campaign Coordinator.

Wise Counsel

They are also accusing the ex-president of not heeding to wise counsel from senior party members and using his boys to suppress dissenting views in the run-up to the election.

In the past week, party activists like Koku Anyidoho, Deputy General Secretary; Anita Desooso, Vice Chairperson; Joseph Bipoba Naabu, NDC MP for Yunyoo; Yaw Boateng Gyan, former National Organizer, among many others, have all claimed the then NDC presidential candidate sidelined most of the executives and dealt only with the young guys during the campaign.

A member of the communications team of the party, Agbesi Notsu, has described National Organizer Kofi Adams as a ‘disaster’ who contributed hugely to the NDC’s shameful defeat.

According to him, Kofi Adams did a terrible job as the Campaign Coordinator, which set the party on track for defeat in the polls.

Speaking to Kasapa Fm, Mr Agbesi Notsu stated that the choice of Mr Kofi Adams as the Campaign Coordinator effectively marked the beginning of the NDC’s defeat.

“Kofi Adams failed completely; he was a disaster,” he charged.

Inexperienced Appointees

The latest to enter the fray is Dr. Kwabena Adjei, former National Chairman of the NDC who stated unequivocally that it was the inexperienced people around President Mahma, who misled him.

“The handlers were all young, inexperienced and they misled him. I will say this anywhere without any fear or favour. We, the old ones, come with experience, he should have listened to us (senior NDC officials),” he told Accra-based Starr FM on Wednesday.

He, however, said everybody in the NDC should take the blame, asserting, “We are all responsible for it. I cannot exonerate myself from that responsibility.”

Dr. Adjei, popularly called ‘Wayo Wayo,’ who had brought the NDC to power in 2008 as chairman and retained it in 2012 as well, said he was sidelined in President Mahama’s campaign to seek re-election.

“Nobody involved me in the campaign; I involved myself…no I wasn’t invited…I tried to get access to the president and I didn’t get access, when I noticed things were going wrong, I tried and tried and tried but I didn’t get access so I mobilized myself…and did what I could do,” the 74-year-old politician said.

Dr Kwabena Adjei said he was not surprised the NDC lost the election and added that his absence as chairman of the party also contributed to the party’s defeat.

“I wasn’t surprised the NDC lost…because when they voted me out in Kumasi, they voted the party out. It was a done deal. I am not superstitious but I came to the party with my own style…and I had a way of relating to the people.”

The former NDC Chairman said the party’s delegates allowed their conscience to be influenced with money and voted him out since he was not prepared to induce them with money.

He added that the monetization of politics in the country should cease since it was ruining the country’s fledgling democracy.

President Akufo-Addo

The former NDC Chairman also said he was elated that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is his contemporary in politics, has become president.

“I’m happy because he comes with a wealth of experience that will help and then a certain respectability from the elder people.

“Now it is like, he is too old; he is 74, so we the young ones must take over. You, the young one sitting here, if I ask you the history of Ghana, you will not be able to tell me,” Dr Adjei said.

“Yes! I’m very happy, because you go to the net, [internet] and find out the number of leaders in the world, from 90 down… Mugabe, Queen Elizabeth right down, Trump is there; Buhari is there; I’m happy Akufo-Addo is in. He is my age. I’m older than Akufo-Addo by a few months,” he stated.