GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer, has attributed the ongoing debate about whether obtaining a Dutch passport is better than a PhD in Ghana to the economic hardships caused by the current government.
Speaking at a public lecture at the Christian Service University in Kumasi, themed “Sustainability of Democracy in Africa: The Ghanaian Experience,” Mahama argued that such debates stem from a loss of hope and confidence in Ghana’s future due to current economic difficulties, corruption, and wasteful use of national resources.
“There’s widespread despair and anguish amongst our people, leading to an active debate on social media about whether securing a foreign passport to do a menial job in Europe is better than holding a PhD in Ghana. It’s the adversity into which our nation has been plunged; otherwise, there’s no basis for comparison between a visa and a PhD,” Mahama stated.
He criticized the current leadership, suggesting that those responsible for the economic challenges should not be entrusted with the presidency again. He emphasized that sustaining democracy in Ghana and Africa requires leaders who are truthful and accountable to the citizens.
“Those whose glaring failures at economic management have sucked us into this vortex of despair, despite their lofty talk in opposition, and who now seek to flee the responsibility, cannot be rewarded with the presidency in this deep crisis. The presidency cannot be handed over to those who present as the future when they are the epicentre of our disastrous present,” he said.
Mahama concluded by calling for leadership that accepts responsibility for challenges and prioritizes honesty, stating, “Leadership that is honest and accepts responsibility for challenges rather than passing the buck is the kind of leadership that sustains democracy.”
The lecture was part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Christian Service University.
