A Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ernest Owusu Bempah has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former President John Dramani Mahama of political patronage in Assin North ahead of the by-election slated for Tuesday, June 27.
He said the level of patronage by the NDC in Assin North is shameful.
“As a matter of fact, the Assin-North by-election has opened a new chapter in our politics. It is a politics of sharing goodies for a vote. I call it galamsey politics. And the man at the height of this abominable politics is former President John Mahama.
“Truly, the guiding principle for Mahama in Assin-North has been brazen cronyism and snubbing established conventions.
“Indeed John Mahama is in the thick of affairs at Kanokrom, Afenase, Obiri Kweku, Camp C, Aworbe, Wawase and Atentan electoral area sharing fertilizers, spraying machines, wellington boots, cash and even paying electricity bills of households,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, June 21.
Here is one of the sharing depots of the National Democratic Congress. Now, watch them deny and point false accusing fingers at others after doing this. The NPP is focused and canvassing for the votes we need for victory on June 27th. Believe it…#Ghana #JoySMS #JoyNews… pic.twitter.com/3cxY9lBZha
— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) June 21, 2023
Below is his full statement…
Mahama’s fatuous galamsey politics in Assin-North is a danger to democracy
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It has been argued time and again that patronage is a fair game, and used by all political persuasions. But the level of political patronage being dished out by Mahama and the NDC in Assin-North ahead of the June 27th by-elections is very shameful.
As a matter of fact, the Assin-North by-election has opened a new chapter in our politics. It is a politics of sharing goodies for a vote. I call it galamsey politics.
And the man at the height of this abominable politics is former President John Mahama.
Truly, the guiding principle for Mahama in Assin-North has been brazen cronyism and snubbing established conventions.
Indeed John Mahama is in the thick of affairs at Kanokrom, Afenase, Obiri Kweku, Camp C, Aworbe, Wawase, and Atentan electoral areas sharing fertilizers, spraying machines, wellington boots, cash and even paying electricity bills of households.
These freebies are being doled out purposely to sway the consciousness of the Assin-North voters in favour of the NDC.
This galamsey politics by Mahama is almost as fatuous as fooling people. It also damages society at large.
And it is yet another distraction. John Mahama is essentially trying to fool people with freebies and aspirations into thinking that the NDC is the party of the people.
How do you square the circle that is a former president who is running for presidential office and engaging in activities totally at variance with our democratic norms?
The NDC is playing a game of pretending to work for the common cause but it clearly is an utter perversion of godly politics.
It is also a throwback to baronial politics of the past – akin to 1933 dubious politics of Adolf Hitler.
Thus, the very mistakes of yesteryears is being played out by Mahama and his bunch of fascist followers. It is all the continuity of their grossly unfair and immoral politics.
They crave for media attention, all for showmanship and not much work.
But voters care about honesty and integrity in politics. The Assin-North voters know too well that Mahama actually cares very little about their welfare and ain’t moved by his vote-grabbing crumbs throwing antics.
Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah Bonsu
Deputy Director of Communications, NPP