President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has poked fun at John Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, for his claim that being in the 8th position on the 2024 presidential ballot ensures his win.
In a recent speech, Mahama confidently stated, “I’m holding number 8, and I’m telling NPP to come and break it if they can.”
This was viewed as a challenge to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Akufo-Addo’s Response
While speaking to chiefs in the Upper East region, President Akufo-Addo humorously responded to Mahama’s assertion. “Breaking the 8 and having number 8, that’s not a good sign at all,” he remarked.
His comments were in support of Dr. Bawumia, who is positioned first on the ballot.
Akufo-Addo highlighted Mahama’s statement, saying, “I have seen that former President John Mahama is saying all kinds of things about the number 8 that he chose.
That means he is going to win. Well, breaking the 8 and having number 8, that’s not a good sign at all.” He added, “Our goal is to break the 8, and he picked the 8, so it’s very simple,” expressing confidence in the NPP’s chances of winning.
The president also commended Dr. Bawumia’s dedication, stating, “For nearly 20 years that I have been working with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, I have not had one day, one occasion to doubt his loyalty, to doubt his commitment.”
Akufo-Addo called on the chiefs and people of the Upper East Region to back Bawumia in the upcoming elections, saying, “I have come here to ask for your support to help Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia break the 8.”
NPP’s ‘break the 8’ Initiative
The NPP has focused on ‘Breaking the 8’ as a key campaign message, aiming for a third consecutive term in office. Mahama’s ‘Number 8’ claim was viewed as a challenge.
