President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has criticised former President John Dramani Mahama, describing him as a failed leader whose tenure is synonymous with the country’s severe power crisis, popularly known as dumsor.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Sekyere Afram Plains District Hospital in Drobonso on Monday, President Akufo-Addo questioned the viability of the opposition National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) promise to establish a “24-hour economy” under Mahama’s leadership.

“If he [Mahama] could not keep the lights on for 12 hours during his tenure as president, how can he sustain a 24-hour economy? This policy is nothing but deceit,” the president remarked.

Akufo-Addo claimed that Mahama is the only Ghanaian president in the Fourth Republic who failed to secure a second term, attributing this to his poor performance in office. While past presidents are remembered for significant achievements, Akufo-Addo argued, Mahama’s legacy is defined by dumsor, a prolonged power crisis that disrupted businesses and homes during his administration.

Highlighting Achievements

The president used the occasion to tout the success of his government’s flagship Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, which he described as a transformative initiative in the education sector. According to him, the policy has doubled secondary school enrolment from 800,000 to 1.6 million students, benefitting a total of 5.7 million young Ghanaians since its introduction.

“Before I took office, over 1,000 BECE candidates were unable to access secondary education annually due to financial constraints. Today, the Free SHS policy ensures that young people across Ghana have equal opportunities for education,” he said.

Appeal for Continuity

Akufo-Addo urged voters to support the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the upcoming elections, stating that he is best positioned to continue and complete the NPP’s developmental projects.

“My Vice President will take over the projects we couldn’t finish. The choice is between someone who failed as president and another who is ready to build on our achievements,” he added.

Source:TheDotNews