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How Long Is The First Lady's Hands In Deciding The Fate Of Gonjaland In John Mahama's Administration?  

By Peter Kulah || Political Activist
Opinion President John Dramani Mahama(left) and First Lady Lordina Mahama
SUN, 19 JAN 2025
President John Dramani Mahama(left) and First Lady Lordina Mahama

The elections are over; H.E John Mahama has been handed an overwhelming endorsement by the Ghanaian people. That comes with enormous responsibility and an onerous task. He has to be a politician and a statesman at the same time in order to get his acts right.

A statesman such that his decisions ought to be fair, ideal and reconciliation. A politician so that his decisions and actions ought to be ruthless, realistic and firm.

In the case of dealing with his region, Savannah, H.E John Mahama ought to be a politician and not a statesman. The reason is that there are expectations from home, just as how other regions and groups have their genuine expectations.

Tongues are waging about the lack of extensive consultation relative to appointments from Savannah Region. The Regional Executives, more especially the Regional Chairman doesn't seem to be enthused about the appointments so far. The suspicion is that he wasn't consulted as much as expected, so are the other key stakeholders like the traditional authorities.

The rumour is rife in Gonjaland now to the effect that slme hidden hands are manipulating the handles to shortchange the region in favor of some selfish group. The situation is even worse in Bole because the youth and traditional authorities have reason to believe that their In-law, the First Lady is attempting to push out their demand for their MP to be made a substantive Minister.

There are genuine questions the people of Savannah Region are asking. How come the likes of Alhaji Limuna Muniru, who has vast experience in governance left out from appointment into a cabinet position? A person of his calibre who has a very good relationship with the traditional authorities and the grassroots should have been considered, even if it means a Minister of state the Presidency in charge of Human Resource Development and Scholarship as he was in the first regime of John Mahama.

How about Hon Yussif Sulemana, the President's MP? Is it the case that the President is falling for the suggestion from some National Executives that he cannot be the President and still appoint his own MP as a substantive Minister? If this is what is creating the loop for some hidden hands to exploit, how about the National Chairman's son been appointed as Deputy CEO of MIIF while his own right hand man, Hon Ahmed Ibrahim has been nominated for a strategic Ministry like Local Government and Rural Development?

It is trite knowledge that Malik Basintale became the face of the 2024 campaign at a point, especially within the youth bracket. He left the comfort rooms of TV and Radio studios, and rode motorbike into the hinterland to whip voter enthusiasm. How then has it become difficult for the young man's request to be appointed as CEO of either Minerals Commission or Forestry Commission to be granted? Why are the hidden hands making it difficult for him but are quick to grant the request to even known opposition members who are bragging of their connection to the First Lady?

Is it really true as speculated that Abu Jinapor's wife has access to the First Lady than even National Executives of the NDC? Is it also true that she and her husband are silently pushing for some people not to be appointed in order to give them an urge in Savannah Region?

Indeed, H.E John Mahama has no option but to leave Savannah Region as a stronghold for the NDC just as Rawlings left Volta for the party. Anything less of this will create an everlasting scar on the political image of H.E John Mahama. Rawlings deliberately created Volta to stand for the NDC even behind him. Today, both H.E John Mahama and the Late Prof. Mills have enjoyed the unalloyed support from the people of Volta. What is H.E John Mahama leaving for the NDC in Savannah Region?

The NPP in Savannah is not dead. The party is only a bruised viper; with time, it will heal and then strike its real enemy. The results of the 2024 general election in the region tell a lot. While the likes of Upper West Region, Upper East Region, Oti Region and Volta Region gave the party all the seats in their respective regions, Savannah actually struggled to snatch 6 out of 7. Nominally, the NDC has improved, but it realistically, the party is sitting on straws because the NPP will strike in 2028 when H.E John Mahama leaves the scene. Abu Jinapor will surely mount a strong come back to make a case for his Presidential ambitions.

This is not to imply that the two appointments so far, although, from one Constituency, is in itself bad, but extensive consultation ought to be done. Hon John Jinapor is a fine brain, hard working and has contributed to the victory of the NDC. So his appointment is on merit. Likewise the appointment of Hon Salisu Biawurbi as the Savannah Regional Minister. A fine legal brain with experience in all aspects of governance. All that is left to get everything right is extensive consultation.

Will Hon Yussif Sulemana Ori be handed the substantive Ministry as expected by chiefs, the youth, religious leaders and Regional Chairman and his Executives or it he will be denied as is speculated? Will we see Alhaji Muniru taking a major appointment? How about Malik Basintale' Mineral Commission's appointment? How about Hon Adam Mutawakilu? How about Hajia Zuwera from Salaga South Constituency?

The tension is mounting and the temperature in Savannah Region is rising. The youth and chiefs are all anxiously waiting to be for the last batch of ministers. H.E John Mahama actually need that arrow head to lead his agenda of leaving a living legacy for Gonjaland. If he fails to see this, it will be a political suicide which might only be exposed after he leaves the scene. H.E John Mahama ought to be firm. Bole must not be shortchanged for the second time; Gonjaland must not be cheated this time around.

Written by Peter Kulah
(Political Activist, Savannah Region)
[email protected]

Disclaimer: "The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana official position. ModernGhana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here." Follow our WhatsApp channel for meaningful stories picked for your day.

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