Former President John Mahama says the failure of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government does not excite him.

Mr Mahama said it has never been his wish that his political opponents will fail. He said it is his hope and vision that Ghana will develop, regardless of who is in power.

The former President made the comments when he launched his campaign to be elected the flagbearer of the NDC at the Cedi Auditorium at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

“There are many who say that my words, just before leaving office in 2016, that posterity will be my judge, have proven prophetic in the face of the disastrous performance of the NPP government and their harrowing dismantling of our country’s prospects.

“I am not the kind of leader who derives pleasure from or who can smile at our failings — even the failings of my political opponents. As noted by Otto Von Bismarck, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others. As far as I am concerned, there is no vindication to be derived from the sufferings of the Ghanaian people. I am offering myself for public office at this time because I appreciate the enormity of the task ahead owing to the level of damage done to our country by this government.”

Touching on the challenges facing the computerized school selection and placement system, Mr Mahama said the government under his next administration will rather have BECE graduates select their senior high schools after their results have been released to avoid the chaos facing the current system.

Mr Mahama also stated that Ghana needs an experienced leader to rescue the country from the current economic turmoil and not a trial-and-error leader.

According to him, Ghana’s economy has been bastardised by the bad policies and systemic mismanagement by the Akufo-Addo government.

He also slammed the NPP government including presidential hopefuls for failing to take responsibility for the government’s failure.

He urged the government officials to swallow their pride and accept that they have failed and stop blaming external factors for their poor performance.