Mahama Ayariga: Stop This Nonsense

By Nana Akua Tweneboah-Koduah

The NDC spirit just came back in time before the first vote was casted. This and other factors largely led the NDC to the historic resounding victory in the 2012 elections. The party is currently in a celebration mood even though it also has to contend with the NPP hooligans who are bent on destroying Ghana’s democratic credentials.

These NPP sore losers are venting their spleen on innocent Ghanaians through killings, beatings and maiming of some NDC supporters following their bitter loss in the polls.

But in the midst of all these, President Mahama has been busily working. Apart from putting together a Transition Team headed by Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, President Mahama made a stop-over in Nigeria to console Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan on the loss of his brother and also conferred with him on bilateral issues that bother on economic, political and cultural issues for the benefit of their peoples.

Ministers have been asked to prepare their handover notes whilst President Mahama has asked Muslims and Christians to pray fervently for peace during the weekend. Then of course we have some parliamentary candidates who are licking their wounds following their bitter losses in the polls.

With all these activities going on, the least the NDC needs is the kind of attitude exhibited by some party faithful and governmental officials which led to the bleeding of the NDC party on several fronts during the past four years.

During the past four years it became a common feature for some party faithful to go on air to settle personal scores and also lambast the NDC whenever they feel peeved with some people or on some issues. These stupid acts led the NPP to feed on them much to the disadvantage of the NDC.

We are in a new era with a new King on board the NDC Train, therefore, these acts by NDC faithful to settle issues on air must cease immediately. We were all here when we heard about the intended presidential pardon of the former Bawku Central Member of Parliament, Adamu Dramani Sakande who has been battling a cardiac problem following his incarceration for fraud.

If the Member of Parliament-elect for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga is not happy about the intended presidential pardon, he should not go and grant interviews to lambast President Mahama on it. That is not the way to go. This is not the time for this kind of nonsense. I mean the NDC does not need this kind of thing at this point in time.

Mahama Ayariga would be better off if he confers with President Mahama and expresses his disappointment on the issue rather than going recalcitrant on Radio.

Hear Ayariga in his own words, “I will support the President if he is setting many prisoners free who have demonstrated that they have changed and willing to become law abiding citizens and would not infringe on the criminal laws of this country. There is a law that runs this country and everybody must respect that law. Otherwise there is no justification for incarcerating those who stole fowls and serving prison terms.”

Mr. Ayariga further went on to describe as unfair the intention by President Mahama to grant presidential pardon to the imprisoned former lawmaker adding that similar concessions must be extended to ordinary Ghanaians languishing in jail rather than limit it to the elite in society.

I want to drum home to Ayariga that he must wise up and not open his mouth too wide on issues that may come back to bite him. President Mahama may have a good reason for wanting to grant that presidential pardon, therefore, if he Ayariga does not agree with him he should not go and fight it on Radio stations. These issues tend to embarrass the President and also the NDC since the opposition NPP always feeds on them to portray that there is disunity and disagreements in the NDC. Going forward the leadership of the NDC should never tolerate these acts which always draws back the party.

By the way, Ghanaians are yet to hear a congratulatory message from the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara to President-Elect John Mahama. Does this confirm the rumour that he was rooting for Akufo-Addo to win?

nakuakoduah@yahoo.com