The Member of Parliament for Daboya/Mankarigu constituency, Baani Abudu Nelson says President John Dramani Mahama is a pride in the political arena therefore deserves more awards than what he has received in Benin.

According to him, President Mahama is worth commendation having gone through the ranks in Ghanaian politics from the grassroots to eventually peak himself in the highest office of the land.

He said this was a remarkable achievement and must be duly honoured for his commitment to our politics in the country.

Mr. Abudu Nelson’s observation comes in the wake of an award President Mahama received from the government of Benin on Monday which represents “The Great Cross of the National Order of Benin”.

The award is acclaimed as the highest in the national awards and credentials of the Republic of Benin, but interacting with Ghanamps.gov.gh on the President’s award, Mr Abudu Nelson maintained that the merits of the President’s political life is so far gratifying and unprecedented, hence ought to be recognized exclusively for his contributions.


POLITICAL LIFE

The President contested to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency in 1996, and won on the ticket of the NDC. He was re-elected to Parliament two more times in the year 2000, and 2004 prior to becoming the Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Party in 2008.

During his first term of office as an MP he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Communications, and subsequently appointed substantive Minister. He was the first Chairman of the National Communications Authority and in that capacity played a key role in shaping Ghana’s telecommunications sector after deregulation. During the NDC Administration of 1996 -2000 he was also a member of the economic management team, and played a key role in the publicity committee for the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT).

When the NDC Government left office in January 2001 he served as the Minority Spokesman for Communications in Parliament from 2001 to 2004, the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2008, and as a Member of the Pan African Parliament. He was also the Director of Communications of the NDC and played a key role in giving voice to the party’s positions on matters of governance and social significance when the party was in opposition.

Mr. John Mahama ascended to the Office of President after the demise of the late President, His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills on 24th July 2012. This undoubtedly paved the way for his investiture in the Presidency and the as the head of state, stipulated by the 1992 Constitution Article 60 (6).
He has since then stayed on as the President of the land, as in December 07, 2012 his position was further entrenched emerging as the President-elect from the 2012 general elections.

For Mr. Abudu Nelson, President Mahama without doubt has earned a lot of credentials in politics to guarantee the vision of creating a Better Ghana, through massive development in the relevant sectors.

He further echoed that he had the potential to rationalize and transform the economy to a desirable level and make it attractive to investors.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh