Barely 48 hours after the former president John Mahama declared that the 2024 election is going to be a “do or die” affair at the polling stations for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), party supporters are flooding social media with their branded T-shirts endorsing the threat.
The T-shirts come with the inscription: “The do or die rescue mission” with an NDC branded cap to match.
The 2020 flagbearer of the NDC has come under fire since the declaration on radio, however, he said he still stands by his words.
“… They don’t understand ‘do or die’. ‘Do or die’ is an English idiom,” Mahama explained. “In Africa, we have many proverbs and we sometimes don’t say things in the straight format: we use proverbs. In English, we have idiomatic expressions.
“Those who left school early don’t understand idiomatic expressions. ‘Do or die’ means a critical assignment you have, and so you must do the needful or perish.”
He added: “What I mean is that the NDC should not wait and go back to the Supreme Court. Whatever has to be done at the polling stations and collation centres must be done. And so I don’t retract: the next election for NDC is going to be a do-or-die affair.
Meanwhile, the former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor, who is expected to announce his bid to be the 2024 presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress, has thrown his first jab at the main contender, John Dramani Mahama.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Dr Duffuor added his voice to those condemning threats and incitements to violence in our politics.
Taking an indirect but clear swipe at former President John Mahama, Dr Duffuor said harsh words and violence cannot cure hunger and poverty.
“This is the time for peace and cooperation, not for violence and divisiveness. Leadership is not about ego or even Election Day, but putting the health, prosperity and safety of Ghanaians first every single day, all year round,” Duffuor’s post said.
“Our children are hungry, our people are hurting, let’s not resort to conflict but come together for the betterment of all. When the country wins, its leader wins, and the success of the weakest among us should be the only priority for the strongest among us,” he added.
In what appears to be direct emphasis on his displeasure with Mahama’s comments, Duffuor said, “this cannot be achieved through harsh words, violence or politicking, but through peace, humility and hard work. In these times of great uncertainty, it is important to remember that words matter and carry great weight!”
“May we all put Ghana first, and remember that party colours will never trump the unity of red, yellow and green,” the chairman of HODA holdings admonished.
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