Open Letter to Ex-President John Dramani Mahama (JDM).

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Dear HE John Mahama,

I bring you warm greetings from my base in Accra Ghana. I trust this letter meets you in good health?

By introduction, I am Richard Kasu of Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GHANA), a democratic oriented Civil Society Organization working closely with relevant stakeholders in shaping the development discourse of Ghana.

Your Excellency, it has become necessary for me to reach out to you through this open letter to draw your attention to very important national issues as a former president of the Republic and a candidate in the NDC’s upcoming presidential primaries.

Sir, before I continue, permit me to congratulate you on your decision to contest as a presidential candidate of the NDC party. Though your decision had been met with mixed reactions from the court of public opinion, it’s obvious your decision to contest again as a flag bearer resonated well with majority of NDC members, delegates and a section of Ghanaians. I can only wish you well as you tour constituencies to seek the mandate of delegates.

Your Excellency, the 2024 general elections may go either way but should you win and lead your party as its flagbearer, never allow the ruling government to subvert the sacred will of the Ghanaian people. Our democratic credential as the beacon of hope for Africa continues to be dented by the actions and inactions of your friend, the President of the Republic, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo. It’s critically important political actors like your good self and players in the civic space rise to the occasion even if reluctantly to salvage the situation and return Ghana, a once respected democracy to its past glory.

Respectfully Sir, I was present at Miklin Hotel last year when you engaged CSOs leaders. During that meeting, we (CSOs leaders) had very frank conversations with you on key reforms needed in the governance architecture of our nation, Ghana. You assured the meeting of your resolve of working with well-meaning Ghanaians in building a Ghana, where there would be equal opportunities for all.

Also, during the recent launch of your campaign at the cedi Auditorium of UHAS in Sokode, you were emphatic and made profound pronouncements including the scrapping of Ex-Gratia should you get the mandate of Ghanaians to govern as President.

This and many more positions being taken by you on national issues are reassuring to many Ghanaians but on the other hand, there are equally a huge number of Ghanaians who keeps questioning the genuineness of your public statements in recent times. To me, Ghanaians have the right to constructively scrutinize your statements but having followed you keenly as you had table by table interactions with participants during the Miklin event, I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that you meant well for Ghana. I pray God energize and strength you to keep contributing meaningfully to the political and economic discourse of our beloved country, Ghana.

Sir, as I indicated in the opening of my letter, I want to reinterate the point that do not allow the sacred will of the Ghanaian people to be subverted in 2024. Coming events the sages say cast their own shadows. Please, do not take the so called breaking the 8 mantra by the ruling government for granted. It’s not a mere sloganeering. No! There’s a grand scheme being deployed tactically to rig the upcoming elections.

Your Excellency, the resurrection of “dead” political parties by the EC for popular votes in taking what I call dangerous decisions must be a cause of worry to you. The proposed use of only Ghana card as sole source document for continuous voter registration for the 2024 elections should be a great worry to you. The recent appointments made by the President at EC where known NPP activists including Dr. Peter Appiahene have been appointed to serve as EC Deputy Commissioners must be a great worry to you, citizens and development partners alike.The rigging machinery is in motion but you have the right to make it static.

Sir, with the greatest of respect, until any political party wins the upcoming general elections creditably and fairly, do not sleep.

Best regards!

Yours In the Service of God and Country,

Richard Kasu
(EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CFF-GHANA)
cffghana2018@gmail.com

Dated this 24th Day of March, 2023.