Mahama’s ethnocentric campaign wrong – Vicky Bright

Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor’s former legal advisor, Vicky Bright, has condemned President Mahama for what she says prosecuting his campaign along tribal lines, saying it could result in disunity.

According to the Executive Secretary of International Legal Consultancy Services, the president is the leader of the country and should not be engaging in conduct that is not nationalistic.

Her comments come in the wake of comments made by President Mahama who, campaigning at Lawra, in the Upper West Region, said: “I pity northerners who are calling for change,” adding that he felt sad for the New Patriotic Party’s vice-presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia – a northerner – because the NPP will only “use you and dump you”.

According to Ms Bright, the comments by Mr Mahama must not be entertained as such conduct does not exist in modern democracies.

“When Clinton and Trump were coming, you didn’t hear them saying: ‘I come from Chicago or Pennsylvania, so vote for me.’ They don’t do that. I don’t also think Angela Merkel campaigned based on where she comes from, and when you come close to our continent, I don’t think some of those leaders did that,” she said on Class FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Tuesday, November 22.

Asked by the host Prince Minkah whether similar comments by ex-president John Agyekum Kufuor were also not based on tribalism, she said even though ex-President Kufuor is a political figure, “I don’t think he made that statement when he was the head of state of the country…”

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor had urged people of Akropong in the Eastern Region to vote massively for Nana Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate for this year’s elections.

“Akropong-Akuapem people are fortunate to have their own son contesting for the presidency. If we say we need change, then we have to rally behind our very own. Wherever the Elephant goes, there is progress. Be wary of campaign promises and also of anybody who advises you to vote skirt and blouse. Vote for both the NPP parliamentary candidate and Nana Akufo-Addo. The president is the one who sets policies for parliament to approve, so, don’t be deceived at all. Vote for the NPP candidate and Nana Akufo-Addo and you will see development in your constituency,” Mr Kufuor said.

But Ms Bright maintained that ex-president Kufour was not the leader of the country neither was he the flag bearer of any political party. She indicated that Mr Akufo-Addo, who is Mr Mahama’s opponent, has not been heard making such statements.

“It is not ex-president Kufour saying: ‘Vote for me, I am your child.’ This is President Mahama going to the North and saying: ‘Vote for me, I am your son,’ etc. Nobody has heard Nana Addo saying the people in Eastern Region should vote for him because he is from there,” she indicated.

According to the private legal practitioner, the NPP is “waging a policy-based campaign to lift us from the corruption now and all the other things that keep us down and keep us underdeveloped, adding: “To us (the NPP), what is important is the plight of Ghanaians.”