Honor CSOs Who Supported You During Liberation Struggle – Mahama Urged

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are urging President John Dramani Mahama to recognize and honor the CSOs that supported him during his liberation struggle.

This call comes as President Nana Akufo-Addo rewards his loyalists, sparking concerns about the importance of acknowledging the contributions of CSOs.

Dear H.E. John Mahama

Your Excellency, I bring you seasonal greetings and also accept my heartfelt congratulations once more for emerging victorious as the President-Elect of the Republic of Ghana in the just ended 7th December, elections.

Sir, before I proceed, kindly permit me to introduce myself. I am Felix Best Agorvor, a dedicated Ghanaian development specialist who advocates for good governance and youth development initiatives.

Before leaving the stage in 2016 as President, you made a very profound and prophetic statement that posterity will be the best judge and indeed your prophecy came to pass.

Having served our country diligently and handed over executive power peacefully, one will least expect that you will be mistreated by your successor, NAADA but alas!

In opposition, your political opponents led by the outgoing President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo together with his assigns
treated you with disdain to ostensibly court public disaffection for you and make you very unpopular in the Ghanaian political space.

In fact, you were persecuted and vilified. Preceding the 2020 elections, your opponents again supported by their allies including some clergymen, CSOs, and Media personnels among others covertly muted the idea of taking you to court to challenge and disqualify you from contesting as president. They used state institutions including the courts, security agencies, NIA, and Electoral Commission among others to frustrate you and your party, the NDC never to come to power.

In all these wickedness against your person and party members, the so called moral voices who were very popular and vociferous during your reign in government went to sleep silently. Others were dinning with government and looked on unconcerned when mayhem was being perpetrated against you and fellow citizens.

Mr. President, in the face of government sponsored attacks against you, killings of innocent citizens, and intimidation, some few progressive Civil Society Organizations including IMANI, CFF-Ghana, Arise Ghana, Democratic Credentials Network, ASEPA, “CARE” for Free Elections, CSD-Ghana, Coalition of Ghanaians Without Ghana Card, ADAM-GH, ChaLog, CEGA among others defied the odds. They stood their grounds and advocated strongly against the ills of the NPP government.

Admittedly, it wasn’t an easy option under NADAA. However choosing a difficult but a dignified path of national liberation is worth it.

Your Excellency Sir, this open letter is being written purposely to remind you of the meaningful contributions of the above mentioned organizations; some of whom may not be the usual bigger sector players on the headlines.

Undoubtedly, these organizations played crucial roles in promoting democracy, advocating for good governance, and mobilizing citizens to participate in the electoral process. They exposed almost all sinister motives of the government and its collaborators.

Yes, they indeed played their roles with absolute bravery when advocacy against unpopular government actions wasn’t attractive under President Akuffo Addo due to the dire consequences.

If President Akuffo Addo can award some of his loyalists and cronies for plunging Ghana into abyss, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong if you also recognize and reward civil society organizations which complemented your efforts for victory.

Sir, some possible ways to award these civil society organizations includes but not limited to:
– *Public Recognition*: Publicly acknowledging and thanking these organizations for their contributions to Ghana’s democracy is now more imperative.
– *Policy Influence*: Involving these organizations in policy-making processes and seeking their constructive input on key national issues is needed;
– *Providing Enabling Environment for civic engagements*: Providing enabling environment including freedom of expression to contribute constructively to your signature policy of resetting Ghana;

By awarding and recognizing civil society organizations who stood with you during your struggle for the high office of President will send a clear signal of your administration’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding true patriots on merit.

Yours in service of God and Country,

Felix Best Agorvor