Barely three months from now, Ghanaians will be heading to the polls to elect a new President to succeed Nana Akufo Addo as his eight-year  constitutional mandate draws to a close. It is noteworthy that the electorate will have the choice between two leaders, one of whom is a former President and the other the current Vice President.

This article aims to guide Ghanaians through a retrospective journey to refresh their memories on certain events that transpired during the tenure of former President John Mahama, events that ultimately led to his unprecedented rejection by the Ghanaian electorate. 

Unfortunately, in our democratic system, every leader is limited to a maximum of eight years as President according to our constitution, which is why John Mahama who faced a significant defeat in 2016 following his lackluster performance in his initial term has the courage to stage a comeback.

It is important to acknowledge that a considerable portion of individuals whose details are recorded in the 2024 voter register,  predominantly the youth, did not experience John Mahama's governance and therefore have no memory  of of the  administration of John Mahama even most people who witnessed his administration seems to have lost memory of his government.

This article aims to enlighten such individuals on the key events that transpired under John Mahama's leadership, while also serving as a refresher for those who were fortunate enough to witness his governance but may have since forgotten.

In the initial segment of this article, the focus will be on the issue of Erratic Power Supply , commonly referred to as Dumsor in the Ghanaian dialect, which plagued John Mahama's government throughout his four-year term.

It was during John Mahama's administration that the thriving Ghanaian film industry experienced a significant decline, leading many producers to withdraw their investments. Movie enthusiasts were compelled to refrain from purchasing movie tapes due to the lack of electricity to watch them at home.

During this period, marriages were also greatly affected, with a surge in the number of broken homes. Working spouses had to inquire about the availability of electricity at home before returning, and if informed of its absence, they sought solace in households with power, leaving their families in darkness.

Hotels and drinking spots were also brought to a standstill. Owners of these establishments were compelled to cease operations and lay off employees.

The impact on industries and small businesses was profound. Productivity declined during this period, while production costs soared, forcing many businesses to shutter their operations, resulting in widespread job losses.

HealthCare and Education also got their share of the incompetence of John Mahama which breed Dumsor, Hospitals have to rely on candles during surgical Operations leading to so many people losing their lives. Similarly in Education Sector, Dumsor disrupted teaching and learning in our schools which affected the overall performance of students. Truancy  went up proportionally in our schools.

Increased in the cost of living, cost of living went up as  businesses had to fall on generators for their businesses. At the same time prices of cruel products has also gone up and in most cases were not even available to the people. Families who couldn't afford Generators sets had to put their security into the hands of God as Criminals also took advantage of the situation.

Unfortunately, amidst the challenges brought about by John Dramani Mahama's Dumsor, he appeared indifferent to the plight of the Ghanaian populace. His remarks, such as "If Ghanaians desire uninterrupted power, they should refrain from charging their phones, 

 If Ghanaians seek uninterrupted power, they should be willing to pay a higher price," 

and "Dumsor is the handiwork of malevolent forces,"reflected a lack of understanding on how to rectify the power crisis.

To the Gen Zs and to  those who may have forgotten the hardships and  disregard under  John Mahama leaderships President  from 2012 to 2017, these instances serve as a reminder of the difficulties endured.

Thank you.

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