Mahama billboard pulled down by TMA chief executive re-installed — Campaign Spokesperson

The billboard of 2024 NDC presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama that was pulled down by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) Chief Executive on Friday has been re-installed, reports Mahama’s campaign spokesperson via X on Saturday.

In a statement on July 19, Joyce Bawah Mogtari warned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the TMA chief against "raising the political temperature" through such provocative acts.

She said the tearing down of the legally-mounted billboard constituted an "unacceptable and needless provocative attempt."

The billboard had been placed by Alliance Media, a registered local advertising company that had obtained the proper permissions to erect out-of-home advertising sites nationwide.

“Alliance Media diligently pay the required annual fees to the TMA and other assemblies. Therefore, it is utterly unacceptable for the TMA chief executive to tear down their legally placed billboard," Joyce Bawa said.

The campaign warned that "such needless acts, which lead to deliberate political clashes and violence, are detrimental to the growth of our democracy."

They cited a similar incident where the NPP allegedly blocked an NDC parliamentary candidate's billboard.

"We have noted a similar act in the Ablekuma North constituency, where the NPP blocked a billboard mounted by the NDC parliamentary candidate. And despite the NPP's unwarranted provocation in various parts of the country, we note that institutions like the National Peace Council and religious and civil society organisations are watching," said the spokesperson.

She added: "The Mahama Campaign wishes to caution that such acts will no longer be tolerated. If they persist, we will be compelled to instruct our members to take necessary measures to prevent such acts across the country."

The spokesperson called on the NPP to "campaign peacefully and respect the rights of others to advertise their political candidates and messages," saying "violence and destruction of property have no place in our political discourse."