Former President John Dramani Mahama has emphatically rejected claims that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are the same.
In a recent interview on the KSM show, Mahama, who is running as the presidential candidate for the NDC in the upcoming 2024 elections, asserted that only disappointed NPP members would make such assertions.
According to Mahama, the NPP’s record cannot be compared to that of the NDC, as his party’s achievements speak for themselves.
He urged NPP members to cease propagating the notion that both parties are the same and instead take responsibility for the challenges faced by their party and the nation at large. He expressed his belief that the NPP is attempting to draw others into their predicament, calling it a mere propaganda tactic.
“It is NPP propaganda… they are in their mess and want to draw everybody else into the same mess. You’ve messed the country up. Not all politicians are the same. But they’re happy to push that mantra and make it look like Oh, whether NDC comes or NPP comes, you’re better off staying with us because when NDC comes it will be the same.”
“That is the psychology of the propaganda they are doing. We are not the same,” he explained to veteran journalist Kwaku Sintim Addo (KSM).
The former president proceeded to highlight key areas where he believes the NDC has outperformed the NPP. In the education sector, for example, Mahama pointed out that the NDC constructed all the public universities in Ghana, while the NPP merely renamed them.
Furthermore, he emphasized the NDC’s contributions in providing electricity and water to Ghanaians.
According to Mahama, the NDC’s National Electrification Program and Rural Electrification Program significantly increased electricity coverage to over 80% during their time in office. Similarly, water coverage saw significant improvements, rising from 55% to 72% while he was in power.
On the matter of digitalization, Mahama claimed that the NPP’s initiatives were a continuation of efforts that had begun during his tenure as Minister of Communications.
He credited the NDC with starting the digital revolution in Ghana, mentioning the expansion of telecommunications, the creation of Ghana Telecom, and the implementation of optic fiber projects like the Eastern Corridor Optic Fibre.
The Former President firmly differentiated the NDC from the NPP, asserting that their records and accomplishments in various sectors set them apart. He urged the public not to fall for the “all politicians are the same” narrative, as he believes that the NDC has made substantial contributions to Ghana’s progress.
