President-elect John Dramani Mahama recently reflected on the isolation he experienced after losing the 2016 elections. Speaking during a Thanksgiving service at the Ring Road Assemblies of God Church, where he worships, Mahama shared anecdotes about how his life changed following his defeat.
He recalled that after the elections, Christmas hampers ceased to arrive, and the once-frequent visitors who crowded his entrance disappeared. Reflecting on these changes, he recounted an encounter with former President John Agyekum Kufuor during a visit to his home.
“I remember winning the 2012 elections and visiting H.E. Kufuor at his residence. It was surprising how quiet his home and entrance were. I recalled how, during his presidency, his entrance was always bustling with people. During Christmas or Muslim festivals, you would see sheep and cows being brought to him as gifts. But this time, the place was silent,” Mahama said.
He continued: “I asked him, ‘Why is your place so quiet?’ He responded, ‘John, take note of this: people only come to you when you hold a position. When you leave office, your house will be as quiet as mine.’ It turned out to be true. After I lost in 2016, the Christmas hampers stopped coming, and the people who used to queue at my entrance asking to see me vanished,” Mahama added, eliciting laughter from the congregation.
Drawing from these experiences, Mahama disclosed that he has learned not to be overly attached to positions of power. “I understand now that the same people applauding me today may not remain when the title ‘President’ is no longer attached to my name,” he concluded.
