'I’m now officially a member of NDC' — Michael Blackson finds love in Mahama

Ghanaian-born American comedian Michael Blackson has lauded President John Dramani Mahama over his recent directive on the past NPP government’s controversial Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) that gave some Ghanaians a haircut.

In 2024, the comedian, who built and donated a school facility to residents in Agona Nsaba in the Central Region of Ghana, expressed concern over his locked-up investment due to the DDEP forced down the throats of investors.

He also criticized the then Finance Minister for the two unfavorable options for bondholders: a significant haircut with a lower interest rate and a longer maturity period and a lower interest rate with an even longer maturity period.

In an interview weeks ago, he revealed that he turned down an alleged request for a 10% bribe in exchange for recovering his $1.2 million investment locked-up in the DDEP.

In the latest move Blackson has praised, President Mahama after assuming office directed the Ministry of Finance to settle DDEP coupons and build debt buffers through a Sinking Fund.

Following this directive, the Ministry of Finance, on Monday, February 17, honored the Payment-In-Cash (PIC) coupon of GHS 6.081 billion to all DDEP bondholders.

This development, according to Blackson—who previously expressed his ambition to become Ghana’s President one day for whatever reason—has convinced him to join the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) which is barely 42 days in government.

“Look at God, this is a very great start for all bondholders. As of today, I’m officially a member of the NDC. John Dramani Mahama, you just put a smile on the faces of the kids at my free school,” he wrote.