John Dramani Mahama, flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), is hoping to become a better President than he was, if Ghanaians grant him the opportunity once again.
He says his inspiration to do better comes from the recognition granted him by the Heritage Times for the 2024 African Advancement Award for exemplary leadership.
The second edition of the Afro-Heritage Awards held in Lagos, Nigeria, Saturday, April 13, 2024, saw John Mahama beating three African leaders to win the honour, for the second of its kind after Botswana’s former President, Lt. Gen. Dr Seretse Khama lan Khama, secured the maiden edition in 2023 in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.
The idea for the “prestigious and significant award to honour people of African heritage who have distinguished themselves through remarkable achievements across the globe has become imperative to foster the African culture of excellence and promote Afrocentrism,” according to the organisers.
They added that, the 2024 flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress has became a beacon of exemplary leadership after successfully handing over power to the opposition when he lost the 2016 presidential election.
In the spirit of upholding the dividends of democracy in Africa, the organisers indicated that Mr. Mahama deserved the honour for “being a shining example with a proven track record of his passion for advancement of democracy, peace, security, and development in Ghana, and Africa.”
During his speech, John Mahama noted that “I’m inspired by this award because not everybody gets the opportunity to be president twice. Incidentally I’m standing for elections again and it’s God who gives that opportunity that you are able to reflect over these last eight years on things that you did well and things that you didn’t do so well and get an opportunity to come and make those things better.
“So, I consider this award from the Heritage Times as an inspiration that I come and be a better President than I was even before,” he stated.
Acknowledging the role played by his team in navigating his way through the challenges he encountered as President, John Mahama indicated that “there is no school that you go to that you learn how to be a President and when the mantle falls on you, you need to leverage everything that you have learnt growing up to help you to be successful as President and you must always remember that not any one person has all the knowledge in their head and so you need to leverage all the mental resources, human resources that you can find to be able to make a successful presidency.”
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