The flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Former President John Dramani Mahama, has challenged members of the current government to stay in Ghana and account for their stewardship if he wins the polls.
He said it was important they did so and avail themselves to the investigative bodies to purge themselves of any crime they may have committed against the state as he has done.
Addressing a rally at Ashaiman on Tuesday, day one of his campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region, he said his administration would exact accountability from the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government without fear, favour or malice.
Speaking in the Twi language, Mr Mahama said as expected, anybody entrusted with public funds must be made to account for same.
“When I lost the election in 2016, I availed myself and challenge them to substantiate all the allegations they have levelled against me but they could not substantiate any.
“They said I had a hotel in Dubai, a ship in Japan and stashed money in a foreign account in Switzerland but here I am. I didn’t ran away to anywhere.
“My appeal to them is that they shouldn’t ran away when I win the election. They should stay here in Ghana as I have done. They should stay here with us and account for their stewardship,” the former president stated.
According to him, the New Patriotic Party’s unrelenting slogan of ‘breaking the eight’ year political cycle and “threats they would not hand over to me” is because they want to escape from accountability.
“That is the why they are hell-bent on bringing Bawumia who has been part of the loot to cover for their crimes against the state but by the grace of God we shall win the election and make them account,” he said.
Mr Mahama pledged to fix Ashaiman roads if he wins the December 2024 presidential election to enhance economic activities in the area.
He said Ashaiman remains a backbone of the opposition party and it is in vein of that previous NDC governments had not left out the densely populated cosmopolitan town in the sharing of the national cake.
He recalled that the NDC in 2015 started the Ashaiman high street project which connects the town to Klagon and the Akosombo road with actionable plans to fix the community roads.
Unfortunately, he said, the roads had been abandoned making movement unbearable for the people.
“By the grace of God and with your votes, we will win the election and when we do, we’ll fix the roads for you and we’ll do it beyond Ashaiman to Zenu and beyond,” he said to the ecstasy of the people.
Meanwhile in Ada, the former president assured the chiefs and people that he would fix the Kasseh-Ada road to bring some reprieve to users if the NDC wins the polls.
He was at a loss how a project he started before leaving office has been left unattended to.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI