"Stop Lying, Prepare Your Soul for Heaven" – Mahama Fires Back at Akufo-Addo Over Dumsor Claims

Former President John Dramani Mahama has issued a scathing response to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over claims that the power crisis known as "Dumsor" was unresolved before the New Patriotic Party (NPP) came to power in 2017.

Addressing the issue during a recent engagement, Mahama not only refuted the allegations but also invoked scripture to emphasize the gravity of bearing false witness.

Quoting Proverbs 19:9, Mahama declared, “Those who bear false witness will not go unpunished, and liars will be destroyed.” He urged the President to cease spreading what he called falsehoods about the state of the energy crisis when he left office.

Mahama’s Response to Akufo-Addo’s Comments

President Akufo-Addo had recently claimed that his administration inherited a mismanaged power sector and had to address the crisis to enable a 24-hour economy. However, Mahama dismissed these claims as fabrications, insisting that Dumsor was resolved before the NPP took office in January 2017.

"I heard him say that we could not keep the lights on. How can we run a 24-hour economy? In 2016, Dumsor had been solved. Nobody’s lights went off in 2016. Nobody had load shedding in 2016. That is on record," Mahama said.

He challenged anyone to verify the records, stating, “Go and look at GRIDCo records. Go and look at ECG records. Nobody had load shedding in 2016, and that is a fact.”

Taking Responsibility

Mahama acknowledged that Dumsor was a generational problem caused by years of insufficient investment in energy generation. However, he asserted that unlike Akufo-Addo, whom he accused of shifting blame, he took full responsibility for solving the crisis during his tenure.

"When the crisis crystallized in my time, I did not do what he has been doing—shifting the blame to somebody else. I went to Parliament and said, ‘I was elected to solve the problems of Ghana. I accept responsibility for the energy crisis, and I will fix it.’ And I fixed it," Mahama stated.

He emphasized that by the time his administration left office in January 2017, the issue of load shedding had been resolved.

A Message for Akufo-Addo

In a pointed remark, Mahama advised Akufo-Addo to reflect on the consequences of falsehoods as he approaches his twilight years.

"If you lie, you will not go to heaven. At his age, he should be preparing his soul for heaven. So he should stop lying," Mahama added.

The Dumsor Legacy

The power crisis, which became a national issue during Mahama’s presidency, had far-reaching implications for businesses and households. The Mahama administration implemented various measures, including the addition of power plants and renegotiation of energy contracts, to stabilize electricity supply.

While critics argue about the effectiveness of these interventions, Mahama insists that his government handed over a stable energy sector to the NPP.

Political Fallout

Mahama’s remarks have sparked widespread debate, with some applauding his straightforwardness and others criticizing the tone of his response. The controversy highlights the deep-seated political rivalry between the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the country gears up for the 2024 general elections.

Conclusion

As the debate over Dumsor continues to resurface, Mahama’s strong rebuttal underscores the lasting impact of the crisis on Ghana’s political discourse. Whether his claims will shift public perception remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the power crisis remains a focal point in the battle for political accountability.