Cadman Mills, the brother of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, has voiced concerns about certain individuals within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) attempting to position themselves for roles in the upcoming John Dramani Mahama administration.
In a post on X on December 29, 2024, Mills cautioned against early signs of sycophancy, pointing out that some people and institutions are excessively flattering Mahama and his family to gain favour.
He specifically criticised public calls for Mahama’s son, Sharaf Mahama, to be appointed as Minister of Sports due to his personal interest in boxing, labelling such suggestions as inappropriate and unmerited.
“Ghanaians deserve more than family appointments based on flattery,” Mills stated, emphasising that the public expects the incoming administration to deliver superior governance compared to Mahama’s previous term, which ended in electoral defeat.
While Mills acknowledged the hope surrounding a new Mahama-led government, he warned that success is not guaranteed and expressed concern about sycophantic behaviour potentially undermining progress.
“But a JDM-led NDC administration is not new to the Ghanaian political scene: It held office from 2013 to 2017. Ghanaians can hope this administration will be better than its first incarnation. But it is not a foregone conclusion. Already, the signs of sycophancy are rearing their ugly heads,” he noted.
Opposition to Constitutional Amendments
Mills also condemned calls for constitutional amendments to allow Mahama to serve beyond the term limit. He expressed alarm at proposals suggesting Mahama should be eligible for an additional term, which would result in a cumulative 12 years in office if he wins re-election in 2028.
“It is particularly alarming that, without having served a day in office, there are already calls for the constitution to be amended to allow the incoming president to contest for an additional term. But why? Why in Ghana? Have we not learned from the experiences of other countries? Please count me as being vigorously opposed to tampering with term limits for the highest office in the land,” Mills declared.
He warned that such changes could destabilise Ghana’s democratic framework and foster a culture where political leaders cling to power, undermining the nation’s governance standards.
Mills concluded by urging the NDC to focus on delivering tangible results for Ghanaians rather than engaging in flattery or pursuing constitutional overreach, which he argued could erode public trust in the new administration.
IS SYCOPHANCY ALREADY RAISING ITS UGLY HEAD?
I need not tell anyone what my political learnings are. I vigorously challenged the NPP candidate’s policy prescriptions for Ghana. I was therefore relieved when he emphatically lost the election. Like all Ghanaians, I celebrated…— Cadman Atta Mills (@CadmanAttaMills) December 29, 2024
