Ghana’s immediate past President, John Dramani Mahama, has yet given the strongest indication he may not be a candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress for the next presidential polls.
Since his recent advice to members of the NDC to stop arguing over whether he will make a comeback and rather, focus on reorganizing the party; it seem its now obvious, the ex-president may have reasoned with his immediate family and the advice of his late father, Mr Emmanuel Adamah Mahama, to quit “when the applause is loudest”
Short of confirming he firmed up on decision not to make a comeback in 2020, Mr Mahama last week in faraway Kenya told a Nairobi audience, his decision was reinforced when he attended the inauguration of his successor, President Akufo-Addo, on January 7 this year. “Last month, I attended the inauguration of president Akufo-Addo. When I exited my vehicle and my arrival was publicly announced at the Black Star Square, there was a loud round of applause… again; I thought of my father and those words – ‘leave when the applause is loudest’.
The Ghanaian ex-president made this profound revelation when he delivered a lecture on democracy and rule of law in Africa in Kenya as guest speaker of the “Mindspeak” series.
An astute political pundit who wants to remain anonymous, interpreting Mr. Mahama’s reference to his father’s allegory; “leave when the applause is loudest”, told this paper that, the ex-Ghanaian leader was signaling his disinterest in leading the NDC into the next presidential election. He added that, “I wouldn’t be surprise to hear former President Mahama formally announce his retirement from active politics any time soon”.
Mr Mahama narrated how he has drawn useful lessons from his father’s “leave when the applause is loudest” advice which, he said, was contained in a letter his late father, Mr E.A Mahama, who was also a former Commissioner in the Nkrumah regime, wrote to then Gen.
Ignatius Kutu Acheampong to pat him on the shoulder for some radical decisions he took during his reign as Head of State.
“Despite the fact that Col. Acheampong had come to power by way of coup d’état, my father was hopeful that unlike a typical coup maker, he might have Ghana’s interest at heart instead of his own. In fact my father was so hopeful that he sat down and wrote Col Acheampong a letter, telling him exactly that. In that letter, my father also decided to dispense a little bit of political wisdom. He advised Col Acheampong to remember to leave when the applause is loudest,” Mr Mahama narrated.
General I.K Acheampong was later disgraced when he was deposed in a palace coup, stripped of his military title, and eventually; executed following the coup by the Armed Forces Revolutionary council led by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
After failing to secure a second term bid in last year’s election despite posting positive and unmatched infrastructural projects, there have been calls on Mr Mahama to make a comeback in 2020. National Organizer of the NDC, Kofi Adams; MP for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije and others have all vowed to prevail on him to contest the 2020 elections.
But the Mahama family has been reported to have advised the ex-president not to make a comeback in 2020. A younger brother of the ex-president and CEO of Engineers and Planners, Mr Ibrahim Mahama told The aL-hAJJ “John has given his all in politics to NDC and Ghana and we think it is just fair that we allow him to rest. We were very supportive and instrumental in convincing him to partner late Prof Mills, and when the time came for him to contest for President; we supported him and advised him to go for it…now we have again advised him not to make a comeback in 2020”.
The former president himself until recently has remained tightlipped on his future political life except to implore National Executives of the party, NDC MPs and the rank and file of the party to channel their energies into restructuring the party instead of discussing whether he will make a comeback in 2020.
With discussions on whether he will lead the NDC into the 2020 elections still raging in the media and party meetings, Mr John Mahama said the advice his late father gave Col Acheampong to “leave when the applause is loudest” and “the subsequent lesson that taught me about democracy was especially relevant now. And I wish to explain why… Last December, elections were held in Ghana. I had served for four years as president. I was seeking reelection…during the course of the campaign that led up to the election; there was one question that I was asked a number of times that bristled me. And the question was- If you do not win, would you concede. Obviously, each time my answer was yes. But I was always perplexed because what other answer was there to give?”
The former President shared fond memories of how during his inauguration as president in 2012 at the Black Star square he “sat and listened to the applause. It made me remember those faithful words my father had written in his letter – ‘leave when the applause is loudest’. Throughout the course of my presidency, I had both been applauded and criticized, I was revered and reviled.”
Signaling how difficult it is to determine when “the applause is loudest”, the ex-president added that “when you find yourself standing at the center of all the sound and wrath, it is difficult to determine when it is indeed the loudest.”
Source: The Al-Hajj
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My Dear Ex-President Mahama, you have achieved the Greatest Honor in Ghana, being an Ex-President of Ghana, use your experience as a former leader to support the best candidate for your party to win the 2020 election if possible, if HE does not win the 2020, there is 2024, that same person might win 2024. The Taste of the pudding is in the Eating, you have tasted the Presidency and you know the TASTE BETTER THAN ANYONE WHO HAS NOT TASTED IT, and the TEMPTATION is GREAT,but the consequence is greater if you loose, due to your family name,your reputation and that of region.If you were going to contest with another candidate not (President) Nana Akufo Ado, its quite different, but someone who beat you while you were a sitting president, that will tell you the stakes are HIGH on your side.The CITIZENRY are tied of your politics and NDC TIME 8 YRS, was due, on the philosophy of Ex-President Kufour. Your father has a High Intelligent Quarter,that is why he said LEAVE WHEN THE APPLAUSE IS LOUDEST. I am Elvis Kwame a Political Analist without bias or prejudice.I belong to no political party so that I would not be blinded by my DESIRE.
Hope that will be nice and wise choice for mr. MAHAMA, hope NPP , is holding on with some informations tagged mr. To drag him to the special prosecutors office, but their waiting for his nomination as leader of NDC, including Asiedu Nketia, my Advice is NDC should be very carefully leadership they’re going to choose to lead therm election 2020.
Muuugu, Clown in uniform
he will get 3% ***barred word*** and balawu, gh
You guys seem to fear the return of Mahama hence your attempts to write and post things here to brainwash people. Whether you like it or not,2020 you will and ndc will come back whether Mahama comes back or not, 2020 will spill you out. NATION WRECKERS
His last hope was the EC and now that she is no more all hopes gone. He has saved himself from a disaster.
YOU ***barred word***, WHAT CHANGE HAVE YOU GUYS EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LIVES WHEN NPP TOOK OVER POWER. THINK ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILIES AND STOP THIS RUBBISH. ***barred word***
One term president....we have retired you for ever hahahahah hahahahhaha hahahahha ashi Wo ruff
Mahama looks like Idi Amin of Uganda.
LOOk at the FULL !!!!!!!; a politician and a stiller masqurading as an army General ;what kind of delusions has this man got besides the man was just lying to Ghanaians ; because there was no loud applause for Jon Mahama ; the man has made his money and laughing all the way to the bank ; Jon Mahamah's father was a thiff who was chased out by JJ Rawlings as he was chased out by Ghanaians in the last elections ; these greedy thiffs including Ablakwa Kofi Adams and Koku are just whistling in the wind because they cannot read between the lines ; the man has already made his money and it is likely they will not get another northner ediot to lead the NDC party for them to still again !!!!!; how come suddenly Kofi Adams of all people can afford to by 5 cars under NDC WHO WILL VOTE FOR JON MAHAMA A AGAIN because when people in the NDC say Jon Mahama is good because the man allowed them to still and he protected wrong doers; by all means they wiil characterise the man as a good man but not a wicked man ; the question is who killed Atta Mills ; Ghanaians still waiting for answers!!!!!1