John Dramani Mahama has warned jubilating Ghanaians on the long road to recovery after he won last Saturday’s presidential election by a wide margin.
Mr. Mahama who is having a second shot at the presidency said his predecessor Nana Akufo Addo in eight years of his rule took Ghana to its lowest point of development in its history.
“These eight years (of Akufo-Addo) have witnessed some of the darkest periods of our governance. The crises our beloved country has been through these last several years have left scars on our national psyche which may take some time to erase,” said Mahama while addressing supporters.
“This mandate also serves as a constant reminder of what things await us if we fail to meet the aspirations of our people and govern with arrogance.
“There’s much to do to salvage our country and reset it. We will have to start with resetting the relationship between citizens and elected officials. We must never forget that the people of Ghana have chosen us to represent their wishes and their best interests. It is the reason we will be initiating important government reforms and sometimes initiate severe measures in the next four years to reset our nation and bring it back on track as the black star of Africa.
“The journey is not going to be easy because the outgoing government has plunged our dear nation into an abyss. “However, we are determined to work together to build the governance we want, and I’m certain; we shall win the battle,” Mahama said.
He thanked all Ghanaians for their continued belief in the nation’s democracy despite the challenges facing the country.
He challenged all elected members of parliament, regardless of their parties, to see the nation as what they jointly own, adding that they should seek a Ghana that works for all citizens and not a privileged few.
