Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has refuted claims that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is the first incumbent presidential candidate in Ghana’s Fourth Republic to concede defeat before the official declaration of election results.
Amidu pointed to a historical precedent set by Professor John Evans Atta Mills, who was the Vice President and presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2000 election runoff.
On December 29, 2000, one day after the election, and before the official results were declared by Electoral Commission Chairman Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan on December 30, Prof. Mills publicly conceded defeat to his opponent, John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Amidu emphasised that this act of statesmanship was recognised by both Kufuor and the Electoral Commission, marking a significant moment in Ghana’s democratic history.
Dr. Bawumia, whose family had close ties to the NDC during that period, cannot claim to be unaware of this historical event, according to Amidu. His father, as Chairman of the Council of State, played an influential role in Ghana’s political developments at the time.
Amidu concluded that while some individuals, including diplomats and clergy, may be unfamiliar with this history, the facts remain clear. He highlighted that Prof. Mills’ gesture of conceding early exemplified the political maturity necessary to ensure peaceful transitions in Ghana’s democracy.
Source:TheDotNews