President John Dramani Mahama responded to allegations that he is abusing incumbency ahead of this year’s elections in November, saying his National Democratic Congress party is open to discussions geared towards establishing rules for political campaigning ahead of elections.
The President’s suggestion comes on the back of allegations of abuse of incumbency by opposition parties, following his ongoing ‘Accounting to the People’ tour, which has been described as an election campaign being executed on state resources.
Responding to the allegations of abuse of incumbency, President Mahama indicated that his status as the Head of State meant the State would cater for his logistics, transport, security among others, regardless of whether he was campaigning or not.
Speaking on Radio BAR in the Brong Ahafo as part of his ‘Accounting to the People’ tour, President Mahama said, “The fact is the President is the Head of State and the state is responsible for the president’s security and transport so anywhere I go, even in the campaign period, the state would have to transport me in safety.”
He also stated that the numerous projects he had commissioned on his tour were not for campaign purposes because commissioning projects was the duty of the Head of State.
“Commissioning projects is something a president does. Projects become ready at a certain time. I won’t say because an election is due, I will suspend all projects that are ready and wait till after elections before you commission them.”
President Mahama however indicated that he would be open to discussing and setting some rules of incumbency as pertaining to campaigning.
“…till all of us decide we shall set these rules of incumbency and also set a political season and say; maybe six months, four months, five months [before elections], the campaign ban is lifted and everybody goes into campaign mode, so it is a debate we are willing to participate in as a party.”
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana