Kwame Dzokoto's Death: ‘My health has never been the same since 2012’ – Stephen Atubiga

Founder and leader of the National Liberation Congress (NLC), Stephen Atubiga, has opened up about his health struggles, which he attributes to what he describes as political neglect by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the party’s electoral victory in 2012.

In a Facebook post, Atubiga appealed to President John Dramani Mahama over his health concerns, recounting years of disappointment and emotional pain that he says have taken a toll on his well-being.

His comments come less than 24 hours after actor and NDC member Kwame Dzokoto reportedly collapsed during a live radio discussion on Owass FM and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The former member of the National Democratic Congress, used the moment to revisit what he described as the painful consequences of neglecting party members after they have helped secure electoral victories.

“The late Kwame Jokoto died from NDC neglect after victory,” he wrote, alleging that political abandonment after elections can have serious consequences for those affected.

Speaking from what he described as personal experience, Atubiga said his own health had never fully recovered from the disappointment he experienced after the NDC’s 2012 electoral victory.

“My health has never been the same after 2012 victory neglect to date,” he stated.

He further argued that the emotional burden of feeling abandoned by a political party can compound personal difficulties, particularly when affected individuals feel unable to speak openly about their experiences.

According to Atubiga, some politicians keep their frustrations to themselves out of loyalty to their parties, even when they feel betrayed or neglected.

“Political betrayal, neglect pain, is kept in you. You don't share with public. You must die with it as a good politician to show loyalty to the party for others to do same,” he wrote.

Atubiga says he tried reaching Mahama over health concerns

The NLC leader also disclosed that he had attempted to inform Mahama about his deteriorating health but was unable to reach the President directly.

He said that a few months ago, after failing to get Mahama on the phone, he decided to send an urgent message through one of the President’s special aides.

“Some few months ago, not able to get JDM on phone to inform him about my state of health and conditions, I decided to send him emergency message through one of his special aides,” Atubiga recounted.

He said the message was intended to inform Mahama that he was not doing well health-wise and needed to communicate his condition to the President.

However, Atubiga admitted that he did not know whether the message had reached Mahama.

“I don't know if he has been informed or not to date,” he said.

Despite the uncertainty, he indicated that he had chosen to carry on with his life and wait for an opportunity to meet the President personally.

“But as a man you move on till I meet him personally,” he added.

Kwame Dzokoto’s death brings political neglect debate into focus

Atubiga also referred to conversations he said he had previously held with the late Kwame Dzokoto concerning what he perceived as neglect within the NDC after electoral victory.

He said he would share evidence of his exchanges with the late actor to support his account of the challenges he believes some party members face after elections.

“Below is evidence of my conversation with the late Kwame Jokoto when I realized that NDC neglect after victory was affecting his health,” he wrote.

Atubiga’s remarks raise questions about the treatment and welfare of political activists and loyalists after elections, particularly those who believe their contributions to a party have not been adequately recognised.

However, his claims about political neglect and its alleged effects on the health of Dzokoto and other politicians remain his personal assertions.

No independent evidence has been provided in the supplied account to establish that neglect caused Dzokoto’s death.

EA