In building a just society, accountability must always take precedence. It is painful to recall how the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administrations treated former President Mahama with such blatant disregard.
They denied him all the basic entitlements guaranteed by law – utility bills, accommodation, medical care, domestic staff, fuel, and travel benefits – they set a dangerous precedent of partisan pettiness and vindictiveness. Their deliberate neglect was an attack on Mahama personally and an affront to the dignity of the presidency.
What makes this even more troubling is the deliberate misinformation spread by the Akufo-Addo government and their media allies. They claimed they had fulfilled their obligations to Mahama. Such acts of dishonesty and divisiveness betrayed the principles of fairness and decency that should underpin leadership.
Why, then, should Akufo-Addo expect to enjoy the full benefits of a former president when he himself disregarded the same for his predecessor?
Yet, even in the face of such injustice, the NDC continues to uphold its commitment to fairness and integrity. Leaders like Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Lordina Mahama and John Mahama himself represent the moral compass that guides the NDC – a party that values compassion over vindictiveness.
While some of us may feel that Akufo-Addo deserves to face the same treatment he meted out to Mahama, the NDC’s dedication to the rule of law ensures that justice is tempered with humanity. That is the distinction between vindictive governance and true leadership.
