Paragraph 1: The Core Contention
Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has directly refuted Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s assertion that he was the first incumbent presidential candidate in Ghana’s Fourth Republic to concede defeat before the Electoral Commission’s official declaration. Amidu insists that this distinction belongs to Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the then Vice President and NDC presidential candidate, who conceded to John Agyekum Kufuor of the NPP in the 2000 presidential runoff. Amidu, who was Mills’ running mate at the time, emphasizes that Mills conceded on December 29, 2000, a day before the official declaration on December 30. He cites Mills’ statement pledging a smooth transition as evidence of this prior concession.
Paragraph 2: Bawumia’s Claim and Amidu’s Critique
Amidu characterizes Bawumia’s claim as "economical with the truth," expressing skepticism about Bawumia’s supposed forgetfulness of the 2000 election events, given his family’s involvement with the NDC at the time. He suggests that Bawumia’s claim may be motivated by a desire to bolster his image for a potential 2028 presidential run, highlighting how some individuals, unaware of Ghana’s electoral history, might be misled by the claim. Amidu asserts that Bawumia’s own vested interest in the 2000 election, due to his father’s position within the NDC as Chairman of the Council of State, makes it implausible for him to have genuinely forgotten Mills’ concession.
Paragraph 3: The Context of Bawumia’s Concession
Amidu criticizes not only the veracity of Bawumia’s claim but also its underlying justification. Bawumia stated he conceded early to preempt accusations of rigging and potential violence. Amidu argues this misrepresents the sequence of events. He points out that Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC’s National Communications Officer, had publicly presented electoral trends indicating Mahama’s victory before Bawumia’s concession. Amidu believes this context diminishes the portrayed spontaneity and statesmanship of Bawumia’s concession, suggesting it was a reaction to the unfolding situation rather than a proactive gesture.
Paragraph 4: Amidu’s Authority and Kufuor’s Silence
Amidu underscores his unique position to refute Bawumia’s narrative, emphasizing that he and John Agyekum Kufuor are the only surviving direct participants from the 2000 runoff who can speak authoritatively on the matter. He attributes Kufuor’s silence to his political rivalry with Bawumia. Amidu stresses his own sense of duty to correct the record with credible evidence, given his firsthand involvement in the 2000 election. He portrays himself as a defender of truth against the "disinformation and fake news" allegedly propagated by Bawumia and his allies.
Paragraph 5: Evidence of Mills’ Concession
Amidu provides detailed evidence from contemporary news reports to support his claim of Mills’ prior concession. He cites reports from the Associated Press, Ghana Web, and the Ghana News Agency, detailing Mills’ congratulatory message to Kufuor, his pledge for a smooth transition, and the acknowledgement of this gesture by both Kufuor and later the Electoral Commission. These reports, he argues, irrefutably demonstrate that Mills conceded before the official results were declared. He also contrasts this with the conditional and less gracious concession of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia in 2008. Furthermore, Amidu points to President Mahama’s concession before the official declaration in 2016 as another precedent that contradicts Bawumia’s claim of being the first.
Paragraph 6: Amidu’s Conclusion and Call for Integrity
Amidu concludes that Bawumia’s claim is demonstrably false, accusing him of lacking integrity and exploiting his education to mislead the electorate. He criticizes Bawumia for deviating from the values of his upbringing, particularly given the emphasis on education as a means to uplift communities in the Northern Territories. While acknowledging Bawumia’s potential future in politics, Amidu emphasizes that he needs to shed his image as Akufo-Addo’s "clone and poodle" and embrace genuine integrity to gain public trust. Amidu concludes by stressing the paramount importance of political integrity for the survival of Ghana’s constitution, urging a prioritization of national interests over political deception.
