You cannot accuse Mahama of abuse of incumbency - Batidam

Mr. Daniel Batidam, Presidential Advisor on Coruption, has taken a swipe at the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) for finding President John Dramani Mahama guilty of abuse of incumbency.' A 10 page finding by the anti-graft body found the NDC has engaged in various forms of abuse.

Portions of the report read: “On Wednesday 27 July, 2016 the First Lady Mahama donated medical equipment and supplies to the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital as part of efforts to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV. The event took place at the forecourt of the hospital.

In attendance was the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, the MP Hon. Mark Woyongo, the Upper East Regional Minster Hon. Albert Abongo and his deputy, the MCE Dr Stanislaus Kadingni, the NDC National Women’s Organiser, Chiefs and Queen mothers as well as NDC party supporters."

According to GII, this abuse of incumbency became apparent when the Spokesperson of the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) campaign, Joyce Bawa Bogtari, revealed to the media that the distribution of the outboard motors and other items formed part of the state’s interventions.

However, Mr. Daniel Batidam in an interview said, “the outboard motors that were distributed were actually included in government’s budget for the year.”“It is not as though state items were suddenly being distributed but that the policy of government was approved.”

He went on to state that, the President cannot be accused of abusing incumbency if he is taking advantage of an intervention that inures to his benefit. “If it is just about saying that a President cannot undertake government policies or activities during a campaign period which are likely to inure to his benefit then I think we get the argument wrong because the same President would have to deal with any negative or disadvantageous situation that he has to encounter,”he argued.