Mahama is threat to democracy – Information Minister

Minister for Information Fatimatu Abubakar has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama, calling him a “threat to Ghana’s democracy”.

During an interview on Asempa FM’s political talk show, Ekosiisen, in Accra on Friday, Abubakar stated, “former President Mahama isn’t above the law, and I find it disappointing to hear such criticisms of independent state institutions coming from a former president. At this point I can say former President Mahama is a threat to Ghana’s democracy”, she stated.

Abubakar remarked on the troubling nature of Mahama’s comments, which, according to her, suggest an expectation that any legal case involving him or his party should automatically result in a favorable outcome.

“As he seems to expect that any court case involving him or his party must end in his favor. Is that how the law should be viewed? Absolutely not. The law dictates that all cases before the court should be decided on merit”, she stated emphatically.

Abubakar referenced recent remarks made by Mahama, who has frequently questioned the credibility of the Electoral Commission (EC) and accused the government of fostering an environment conducive to election malpractice.

She argued that these accusations lack substantial evidence and represent a significant threat to Ghana’s democratic stability.

“Consider the difference between the 2012 and 2020 election petitions. Who presented the most evidence to the court?” she posed rhetorically.

“In 2012, when the Supreme Court ruled against then-candidate Akufo-Addo, he accepted the decision without question to preserve our democratic stability. That approach upholds democracy; it is not about trying to manipulate the law to serve personal or political interests,” Abubakar emphasized.

The Information Minister highlighted what she described as a dangerous pattern in Mahama’s statements, asserting that his claims are intended to undermine the integrity of Ghana’s democratic institutions. “Democracy relies on respect for the rule of law and independent institutions,” she noted.

“The Electoral Commission and the courts are institutions we should support to ensure a fair and transparent election,” Madam Abubakar stated. She warned that if a former president undermines these institutions’ credibility without concrete evidence, it is not merely irresponsible; it represents a direct threat to the health of our democracy.

Abubakar urged all political parties, including Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC), to practice restraint and place national interests above political ambitions. “There is a time and place for political disagreement, and our democratic system allows for vibrant, competitive debate,” she explained.

“However, when that debate crosses the line into undermining democratic institutions, it evolves from a political issue into a national crisis. Political leaders must lead by example and promote peace and national cohesion,” she concluded.