Mahama Is Not Sure of His Legitimacy As President � Atik Mohammed

A Policy Analyst of the People�s National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed has punched holes in President John Dramani Mahama�s introductory remarks when he delivered his maiden State of the Nation Address, saying he (Mahama) appeared worried about his own legitimacy as the President of the Republic of Ghana. �For him to publicly emphasize that he was the elected President, create the impression that, he doubts his own legitimacy,� Atik Mohammed cited. In his first State of the Nation Address, President Mahama repeatedly mentioned that he was the elected President, adding that the elections which was held on December 7 and 8 2012 was free, fair and credible. Nana Boakye, a member of the NPP's Communication Team in Ashanti Region, commenting on the same issue, posited that �it does not lie in the mouth of the President to tell Ghanaians that he is the elected President.� Speaking as a panelist on Okay FMs �Ghana Decides� programme, Nana Boakye stated that in the history of the elections held since 1992, the 2012 elections has been considered the most contentious which many political parties are not happy with. In response to his assertions, the Eastern Regional Organizer of the NDC, Bismark Tawiah Boateng indicated that President Mahama was right to tell Ghanaians that he is the elected President. Tawiah Boateng stressed that President Mahama is now elected in the 6th Parliament and meeting the new members of Parliament for the first time, was fair to set the record straight and addressed the Parliamentarians as the elected President. He, however, reiterated the fact that some political parties have challenged the 2012 elections results in the Supreme Court, does not stop him from performing his constitutional duties since the Electoral Commission has declared President Mahama as the President. Bismark Tawiah specified that the; �the President is not a Chief Justice, he is not a Supreme Court judge and he has not taken anybody to court,� adding that elections were conducted in polling stations and the electoral commission declared him a winner with 50.7% and according to the Constitution he should be sworn-in as President. He alluded that the Supreme Court has not adjudicated on the case in a different direction and so the President has the right to call himself as the elected President to tell Ghanaians that he is still the President of the Republic of Ghana.