In 2011, it was “All die be die” by then Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) then in opposition were eager to grab power from the hands of the National Democratic Congress by all means.
“They have intentions to intimidate us in 2012 because they believe that we are soft and cowards. If that is the thinking, then we shall see. At least, during the Atiwa by-election, we showed a little of our colors there.
“You must understand that this party was formed by courageous people. Our leaders who formed this party that has now become the biggest political movement in Ghana were not cowards. So in 2012, we need to be courageous because all ‘die be die’. All die be die,” Akufo-Addo repeated.
In raising a defense, the NPP said the “all die be die” was not a call for violence but to motivate the grassroots.
This generated furore with the NDC tagging the NPP as violent. Other political pundits called on him to apologize which he subsequently did.
Ten years down the line history seems to have repeated itself; this time from the NDC. Former President John Mahama has been caught in a web of controversy over a “do or die” comment.
According to him, “the 2020 elections were rigged for the NPP. We have however accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court for the sake of peace. However, come 2024, the NDC will be extra vigilant at the polling stations because that is where the elections are won. So at the polling station (in the next election), it will be do or die. I am not saying all die be die. I’m saying it will be ‘do or die’ because the right thing must be done”.
Following pressure on him to retract and apologize the former President and the NDC said the “do or die” comment was an “idiomatic expression” and a wake-up call and not a call to violence.
They believe they have nothing to apologize for.
Reacting to this on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Nana Akomea, Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC) condemned the former President’s comment insisting he must apologize.
According to him, Mr Mahama is giving the same justification then candidate Akufo-Addo gave in 2011; urging that he does the right thing, to apologize.
“A politician said all die be die and you the NDC criticized him strongly until he apologized . . . so how come years down the line the leader of the NDC will say the same thing because the excuses Mahama is giving now are the same Akufo-Addo gave; that those comments were not for violence but vigilance . . . but as politicians we make mistakes and when you do and you’re asked to apologize, you do the right thing, but going back and forth with various justifications is not helpful. He should apologize because anything with die or death is in bad taste,” he urged.
