John Mahama Slams NPP’s ‘Breaking the 8’ Mantra, Citing Corruption and Poor Governance

Former President John Dramani Mahama has weighed into the ‘Breaking the 8’ mantra of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

By the mantra, the ruling party seeks to continue to stay in power to stop the eight-year election cycle of political party rule in Ghana since the advent of the Fourth Republic.

Addressing members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a Tertiary Education Institute Network (TEIN) Alumni Connect event on Saturday, July 8, the 2024 flagbearer of the party said ‘breaking the eight’ will be achieved but because Ghanaians are fed up with the corruption, wastage, impunity and arrogance, among other ills under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

“Yes, we must break the eight years of corruption,” he began.

“Yes, we must break the eight years of impunity and waste. Yes, we must break the eight years of poor governance. Yes, we must break the eight years of arrogance.”

The former President bemoaned the current economic conditions, pointing out how the youth are yearning to travel abroad despite the dangers associated with their journeys.

“Most Ghanaian youth rightly disillusioned by the hopelessness engulfing our country are preparing now to leave the country in search of greener pastures elsewhere,” he observed.

“Not even the perilous nature of those journeys in this pursuit is enough to deter them. Many sectors especially education and health continue to lose many professionals who find the attraction of earning far more abroad than they do here too irresistible.

“This is a telltale sign of national failure, a news to be reversed as quickly as we can.”

He, therefore, called on well-meaning Ghanaians to stem the tide as early as the next elections.

“The reality, however, is that no measure of confidence can be placed in this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government to be able to do this. The sad reality is that only a change of government through the 2024 elections can result in a change in the trajectory of this country as the NPP has come to an end of the road in terms of any workable ideas.”