Former President John Dramani Mahama has said he is not perturbed by the endorsement President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has received from musicians Sarkodie and Samini.
Mr Mahama said Ghana’s politics does not understand the trend where celebrities endorse candidates.
In his new song titled ‘Happy Days’, in which he featured Kuami Eugene, Sarkodie indicated that President Akufo-Addo has implemented a number of good policies that all Ghanaians are benefitting from.
These polices, he sang, include the Free Senior High School Policy as well as the uninterrupted power supply to homes and industry.
During the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, Sarkodie stated Ghanaians did not enjoy these policies that are being witnessed currently.
“We all spoke against the dumsor (erratic power supply) and the high inflation rate and so if these have been solved at the moment with Ghanaians also enjoying Free SHS, then all I can say is that Nana Akufo-Addo should continue for another four years,” he said in the song.
Similarly, dancehall artiste Samini has also endorsed the sitting president for a second term in another song titled ‘Kpoyaka’.
In that song, Samini catalogued the achievements of the president in the agric, service, manufacturing and industry sectors of the economy.
“Nana show boy is Number One on the ballot. Nana, continue with the work because you have delivered,” Samini said.
But reacting to this in interview on Accra-based Starr FM Tuesday, November 3, Mr Mahama said: “Musicians would make music for you but it doesn’t amount to endorsement. In Ghana, when a musician makes music for you or the party, then he comes again quiet on the antiparty of the supporters of the party. That shouldn’t be the case.
“And so in this particular campaign I have tried to discourage as much as possible getting celebrities involved in our campaign because it leads to a distraction of their careers.
“So if you notice, I haven’t been going round with celebrities because our politics does not understand those things.
“I don’t have any anger for anybody who endorses Nana Addo because I like Sarkodie and Samini. They are young talented artistes and my attitude towards them doesn’t change. Samini is somebody I like. If he endorses Nana Addo he must have his reason for doing that. It doesn’t change my attitude towards him.”