Significance of JDM’s Emergence as President of Ghana

He isn't an Akan or Ewe but a citizen of Gonja origins in the Northern part of Ghana, and without shame, hails from one of a number of ethnic groups that some foul-mouthed and ignorant politicians consider as being incapable of doing nothing other than rearing cattle and delighting in internal conflicts. I speak of John Dramani Mahama; Ex-Vice President, President interim, President-elect, and now Chief Commander of Ghana.

When then President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills dropped dead on the 24th of July, 2012, a new chapter got opened in Ghanaian politics. Yet the party he led was on familiar territory.

Since the adoption of democracy in 1992, the National Democratic Congress seemed to have stipulated a succession rule, which may not be written in stone but apparent. Ideally, a leader who have exhausted his/her term of leadership or becomes incapacitated or dies should be succeeded by a deputy, who had understudied him and boasts enough experience to step into the shoes of the former boss. Ex-President Rawlings, in 2000, passed on the NDC baton to his Vice President at the time, Prof. John E.A. Mills, and some may have suspected that the Professor's selection of Mahama as his running mate for the 2008 elections made him an automatic and future successor to the leadership post. But others thought otherwise.

Save Dr. Hilla Limann's brief stint as President from 1979 to 1981, no other person or candidate of Northern origins ever became head of state, and such a thing happening seemed, for the foreseeable future, unlikely. Northerners might be anointed as presidential running mates of the two major parties (the NPP and NDC), but be put forward as ultimate candidates? That was a no-go area. It was definite and decided for the wooing of Northern voters.

A few NDC folks may play the Ostrich and hide their heads in the sand to argue that JDM succeeding President Mills in 2016 was to be the case, but I beg to differ. Bigwig NDC members wouldn't have seen it that way and would have contested the post with him in the same way Ex-Vice President John Aliu Mahama of the New Patriotic Party was denied the chance to succeed Ex-President Kuffour in 2008.

Mills' demise, however, enabled Mahama to become interim President and de facto leader of the National Democratic Congress (a case of fortune favouring the prepared or lady luck smiling on a Vice-President who would have lost a 2016 flagbearership if he dared put himself forward to be chosen?) Whatever.

Finding itself in such a position, the NDC was not prepared to allow a flabearership contest that could have brought up a new face as party leader after John Dramani Mahama serves as President interim before the public eye for more than four months. That would have been political naivety; a move without political forethought and fineness, surely?

The man was already well known, easy to market, and looked poised to continue the so called “Better Ghana Agenda” initiated by the late President John Evans Atta Mills. Strategy then recommended that he be maintained as party leader and candidate for the December Elections.

And with an exuberance of character, which no one can take away form him, a communicative edge, a positive personality brand, “normal abuse of incumbency,” and a flat-footed stance from the opposition, he was enabled and clinched an NDC victory in Election 2012 to become President-elect.

Foul-mouthed politicians, eat your hearts out! Nay-sayers, begone! John Dramani Mahama (after being sworn in) is now President of State and Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Pop goes the bubble. A myth is busted. Anybody (whether Ga, Ewe, Akan, Hausa etc. ; whether coming from a cattle rearing community, a fishing enclave, a farming culture, a gold mining environment or anywhere else in Ghana) can now aspire to the highest post of the land. That's a plus for Ghanaian democracy. That's the significance of John Dramani Mahama's emergence and election and enthronement as President on this 7th day of January, 2013.

Hail the Chief! Hearken unto the Commander! Congrats Sir. Ghana is now yours to steer.

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Stanley Courage Dugah is a writer and poet based in Ghana. He regularly blogs at scdugah.wordpress.com. Besides writing online, he's also working on a number of novels, novellas, short stories, and a poetry collection. You can connect with him on facebook or Follow @StanleyCDugah