“I am a democrat true, true” – President Mahama
The President gave the assurance during the Presidential Media Encounter on Wednesday, September 10, when asked whether democracy was safe under his leadership following the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his government’s commitment to nurturing and safeguarding Ghana’s democracy, assuring that the country remains on the path of democratic consolidation.
The President gave the assurance during the Presidential Media Encounter on Wednesday, September 10, when asked whether democracy was safe under his leadership following the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
“I am a democrat true and true, and even when we attained two-thirds of the numbers in Parliament, I said that we were not going to use it to ride roughshod over the minority. We are going to give democracy the opportunity to flourish, so we don’t intend to use our two-thirds to scheme or roll over our democracy.” He said.
President Mahama lightened the mood when he dismissed suggestions that he was tilting towards authoritarianism.
“Bernard said I am in danger of becoming a supreme leader. Look at my face, do I look like a supreme leader? That is to paraphrase Prof. Atta Mills, who once said, ‘Do I look like a cat hunter?” He said
He explained that the overwhelming mandate given to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) was not to promote dictatorship but to advance reforms that would strengthen governance and ensure inclusiveness.
“Ghanaians gave the NDC government the overwhelming endorsement to carry reforms that will make governance better and not to turn the country into a dictatorship,” he said.
The President further expressed optimism that the government’s parliamentary majority would pave the way for long-awaited constitutional reforms.
“We stand a very good chance with that two-thirds majority to finally move amendments to the constitution that we had all wanted. In the past, because of hung Parliaments, we couldn’t make progress. Some of these amendments require an overwhelming majority, and Ghanaians have now given us that opportunity to build a better Constitution that will serve many generations to come.” He added.
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