The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has slammed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his comments describing his presidency as synonymous with power cuts locally known as “dumsor”.

In a speech on Monday, November 25, President Akufo-Addo called Mahama a “failed president”, noting that he was the only Ghanaian leader not to be re-elected for a second term. Akufo-Addo argued that while other past presidents are celebrated for their significant achievements, Mahama’s tenure was remembered for its ongoing power supply problems.

He also rejected the NDC’s proposal for a “24-hour economy”, questioning Mahama’s ability to manage such an initiative given his history. “If he couldn’t keep the lights on for 12 hours during his term as president, how can he keep an economy running 24 hours a day? Stop these lies,” the president said. During his tour of the Western Region on Tuesday, Mahama quickly dismissed the allegations, saying the power crisis was resolved before he left office in 2017.

He expressed disapproval of the president’s comments, calling them lies and unworthy of his status.
“I expect that when the NPP lies, they will leave it to the youth and the youth to do it. But when elders like Nana Akufo-Addo say that the ‘dumsor’ issue was not resolved before they came, I hear them say that if we cannot keep the lights on, how can we run the economy 24 hours a day?” Mahama replied. He added: “In 2016, the ‘dumsor’ issue was resolved. “Nobody turned off the lights in 2016, nobody suffered a power outage in 2016, that’s a proven fact.”

Quoting a biblical reference, Mahama also argued that dishonesty results in divine punishment. You know, liars cannot reach heaven, and let me quote from the Bible, Proverbs Chapter 19:9. He said that those who bear false witness will not go unpunished and liars will be destroyed,” he said.

The exchange highlights the deep political rivalry between the two leaders as the 2024 elections approach.