Maurice Ampaw, a prominent Ghanaian lawyer and media figure known for his staunch support of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), issued a dramatic pre-election declaration in October 2023. Speaking on Kumasi-based Angel FM, he vehemently opposed the potential return of former President John Dramani Mahama, the then-flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to the presidency. He vowed to self-impose exile in neighboring Togo should Mahama win the December 2024 elections, asserting his refusal to live under Mahama’s leadership a second time. He questioned Mahama’s purpose in seeking another term, framing his return as detrimental to the nation. This emphatic statement, delivered in Twi, garnered considerable attention, particularly within the charged political atmosphere leading up to the elections.
However, following the announcement of Mahama’s victory by Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa on December 9, 2024, Ampaw’s stance underwent a significant transformation. Appearing on Accra-based GTV’s morning show, he retracted his earlier pronouncements, characterizing them as political theatrics intended to galvanize NPP supporters. He admitted that his threat to leave for Togo was merely part of the “political game,” a hyperbole designed to underscore his belief in the impossibility of a Mahama victory. He now conceded that Mahama’s win demonstrated that “anything is possible” in the political realm.
Ampaw further emphasized the insincerity of his initial statement by revealing that he has never traveled outside Ghana and does not even possess a passport. Having lived in Ghana for all of his 57 years, the prospect of relocating to Togo, he claimed, was never a genuine consideration. His dramatic declarations were purely rhetorical, aimed at energizing the NPP base and solidifying support for their candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He acknowledged that the emotional intensity of the election campaign often leads to exaggerated pronouncements, with his Togo exile threat being a prime example.
The election results, announced after the December 7 polls, revealed a decisive victory for John Mahama, securing 6,328,397 votes. Dr. Bawumia, the NPP candidate whom Ampaw fervently supported, trailed significantly with 4,657,304 votes. This outcome forced Ampaw to confront the reality of his earlier pronouncements, prompting his public recantation and the explanation that his words were not to be taken literally. This incident highlights the often-volatile rhetoric employed during election campaigns, where strong emotions and partisan loyalties can lead to hyperbolic statements and dramatic pronouncements.
The case of Maurice Ampaw serves as a reminder of the performative nature of some political pronouncements, particularly within the context of highly contested elections. While his initial statement resonated with some within the NPP base, its later retraction underscored the importance of distinguishing between genuine political convictions and rhetorical flourishes designed to mobilize support. His admission that the threat to leave for Togo was merely a “political gimmick” reveals the calculated nature of such pronouncements, often intended to generate attention and rally the base, rather than reflect deeply held beliefs.
This incident also underscores the fluidity of political discourse and the potential for shifts in position following electoral outcomes. Ampaw’s initial vehemence against a Mahama presidency, followed by his conciliatory remarks after Mahama’s victory, highlights the dynamic nature of political allegiances and the pragmatic adjustments often made in the wake of electoral results. It serves as a case study in the evolution of political rhetoric, demonstrating how pronouncements made during the heat of a campaign can be reinterpreted or even disavowed once the final results are known.
