Former President John Dramani Mahama has revealed what he did the following day after he handed over the administration of Ghana to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
John Mahama, after suffering an excruciating defeat on December 7, 2016, handed over the baton to Akufo-Addo on January 7, 2017, at the Black Star Square in Accra.
No office to go to
He said: “I remember the day after I had handed over – this was the 8th of January – I woke up in the morning and remembered there was no Office to go to.”
“So, I relaxed in my bed and turned on the TV, watching CNN. I spent the whole day watching TV at the time Donald Trump was the President-elect, and they were going through the transition, waiting to hand over; so, I just kept watching what was going on,” he added.
John Mahama made the revelation when he delivered a lecture during a graduation ceremony at the Institute of Security Studies in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday.
I’m happy you lost
The former president said whilst he was cooling off, his 9-year-old daughter who he barely spent time with as President, enquired why he was still at home and had not gone to work.
“My daughter, Farida, who had gone to school in the morning, arrived in the afternoon. She found me lying in bed which was unusual, because when I was President we could go a whole week without seeing each other.”
“She leaves the house early in the morning to be able to get to school on time, by which time I probably had not gotten out of bed. She gets back home late afternoon, and I am in the Office and I get back in the night when she is asleep. So, we could go the whole week without seeing each other. For the first time, she came back from school and there I was lying on my bed and watching television.”
Below is what ensued between John Mahama and his daughter:
Farida: Daddy, didn’t you go to the Office?
John Mahama: No, don’t you remember that I handed over to President Akufo-Addo yesterday?
Farida: OK; so it means you are not going to the Office anymore?
File photo: John Mahama and his daughter, FaridaJohn Mahama: No, I have no Office to go to
Farida: Then I am happy! So will I be coming home from school and meeting you in the house?
John Mahama: Yes
Farida: Then I am very happy that you lost the elections!
International assignment:
The former President also noted that, ever since he left office, he has also been preoccupied with international assignments, speaking at different fora, including mediating the political impasse in The Gambia as well as monitoring elections in Kenya and Liberia.