Reluctance to punish ‘our own’ hindering Ghana’s progress – John Mahama

Former President, John Dramani Mahama says that the reluctance of political actors to ensure that fellow politicians who go against the law are dealt with is hindering the progress of the country.

He says that as Ghanaians prepare for Christmas, the focus should also be on ‘the strictures that hinder our progress as a society,’ ABC News can report.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the ‘Conversations in the Cathedral’ at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra, Mr. Mahama noted that whilst many of the strictures were attitudinal and thus required determination and will power to overcome, others were structural and embedded in the governance system.

He explained that the structural strictures both required attitudinal and far-reaching reforms to address them.

“We must reflect on the strictures that hinder our progress as a society. Many of these strictures are attitudinal which require determination and will power to overcome. Other strictures are structural and are embedded in our governance system. Those require both attitudinal and far-reaching reforms to address them,” he noted

In light of this, the leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress says that there should be reforms to change the trend.

“The far reaching reforms must include the political will to punish our own without interference, fear or favour when they offend the laws of the land. The reforms must also demand higher ethical standards from us as Christian solders and all aspects of our national life. I believe we can live up to the demands of such higher standards. In fact we have no option because that is the only way to address the challenges of our nation for progress and prosperity for all,” Mr. Mahama added.

John Mahama further charged Christians to pray for God’s abundant blessings and favour upon Ghana in the 2020.

He also urged them to pray for a peaceful, free and fair election in 2020.

“As we prepare ourselves for Christmas, let us also prepare in the new year 2020 and pray for God’s abundant blessings and favour upon our nation. Let us in additional, pray for a peaceful, free and fair elections devoid of any violence. It is my prayer that we spend this Christmas in peace without incidents and accidents”

Ghana will in the coming year, go to the polls to elect a leader. John Dramani Mahama will be seeking to unseat President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo having lost to him earlier in the December 2016 polls.