2024 General election critical for NDC - Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the 2024 general election is critical for both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He explained that it was on that basis that he stated that it was ‘do-or-die' election for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as it meant “a critical assignment you have and you must do the needful or perish and so you must do the needful”.
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He said those criticising him for the comment lacked understanding of the English Language as what he said was an idiomatic expression and would, therefore, not retract the “do-or-die affair” comment.
“Every language has idioms. In Africa, every language is spiced with proverbs and when one wants to tell you something, it will not be told in a straightforward format. In the English Language, there are idiomatic expressions and those who left school quite early do not understand such expressions”, he stated.
Radio interview
Speaking on Sunyani-based radio station, Moonlite FM as part of his ‘Thank you' visit to the Bono Region yesterday, he said the NDC would ,therefore, not wait to go to the Supreme Court again since it would do whatever it had to at the polling station.
“The next election for the NDC will be a do-or-die affair and we will do the right thing at the polling station. I will not retract my comment, everybody should open his dictionary and find out what do-or-die means. It is different from all-die-be-die which is pidgin jargon.The NDC must man the polling stations,” he stated.
Former President Mahama, who was accompanied by a high-powered delegation, including his 2020 running mate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, the National Chairman and General Secretary, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and Johnson Asiedu Nketiah,respectively, therefore, charged all NDC constituency executive members to be at polling stations and collation centres and make sure the right thing was done during the 2024 general election.
“Don't abdicate your responsibility at that level and expect that after somebody has stolen the election you {will} go to the Supreme Court for them to overturn the elections. They won't do it”, he said.
“I say it is a do-or-die affair.The NDC must man the polling stations. They should man the collation centres and make sure that pink sheets are correct and make sure that we get the right results and everything because if I am the NDC flag bearer in 2024, I won't go to the Supreme Court”, he added.
Polling stations
Mr Mahama said the NDC must win at the polling stations and the collation centres and the Electoral Commission would have no option than to declare who the true winner is. It depends on the people of Ghana and I am hopeful the NDC will win the next election”.
Break the 8
Former President Mahama said there was no way the NPP was going to investigate itself, adding that notwithstanding ongoing corrupt practices, the NPP had adopted “the break the eight slogan” so that if it won the election, everything would be swept under the carpet.
Former President John Mahama has stated that those criticising him for his ‘do-or-die' comment lack understanding of the English Language as what he said was an idiomatic expression and would, therefore, not retract the comment.