I will ‘step on toes’ to work for Ghana — Dr Edward Mahama
The 2016 Presidential Candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, has hinted that he will “step on toes” in order to ensure that the right thing is done for the country, if elected President.
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“I may end up being a one-term President because I will step on toes to work for the collective interest and good of Ghana. We need to do that no matter the consequences for the individual and Ghana to be relieved and better off,” he told the Daily Graphic.
The PNC flag bearer was speaking in an exclusive interview after he had led a delegation, including the party’s National Chairman, Mr Bernard Mornah, to pay a familiarisation visit to the headquarters of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in Accra last week Thursday.
He also held fruitful discussions with the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, and some members of the 2016 Election Project Committee of the company. He was later taken round the newsroom by the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, where Dr Mahama interacted with page editors, reporters and some designers of the company.
Mahama’s electoral fortunes
Having contested four elections already as a presidential candidate of the PNC, Dr Mahama has adopted “New beginnings, new deal, new force” as part of his key strategy to help change the direction of the November 7 general election and win it.
In 1996, Dr Mahama had three per cent of the valid votes cast and in 2000 he got 2.5 per cent. In 2004, he got 1.92 per cent, while in 2008, he had 0.87 per cent.
However, Dr Mahama could not contest in the 2012 elections because he lost the party’s presidential primary to Dr Hassan Ayariga who has since left the PNC to form his own party, the All People’s Congress (APC).
‘I can do it’ attitude
But Dr Mahama, who expressed confidence in being fifth time lucky in the 2016 polls, said a future PNC government would provide exemplary leadership that would tap the entire nation’s potential.
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He promised to offer selfless and sacrificial service to the nation and pledged to inculcate in young people the ‘I can do it’ attitude as a President.
“We must give the young people an attitudinal and mental change and help them to strive for excellence. The attitude that you cannot do something is unacceptable and it is my desire to give Ghana a mindset of ‘I can do it’,’’ he stated.
“This is what I will offer to Ghanaians in order to improve agriculture, health, education, among others, to transform the economy as well as accelerate growth,” he emphasised.
Too much partisan politics
According to Dr Mahama, there are too many partisan considerations in everything and every decision taken to the extent that “we have reduced a serious thing as farming to partisan politics and consideration which is affecting the ability to deliver”.
The PNC, Dr Mahama assured, would, therefore, break away from that ‘pettiness’ because “a future PNC government will be a government of the people by the people and for the people. And that is what we need”.
“As a Ghanaian, I refused to accept the prevailing conditions of poverty, squalor and filth across the whole country. Indeed, our current condition is not our potential. Our potential is far higher and this is what motivates me into politics and for that matter seek the highest office of the land (Presidency) to offer the right leadership by example,” he stated.
He observed that on a visit across the country, including the capital, Accra, young people were seen carrying gallons of water, hawking on streets and doing menial jobs.
“It is this rejection of the people that pushes me into politics, especially, when we consider the resources at the nation’s disposal,” Dr Mahama said.
Manifesto
He disclosed that the PNC would launch its manifesto next month (July) and hinted that it contained a number of