The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has reportedly encouraged members of his party to persist in misleading Ghanaians, particularly voters in the Ashanti Region, reiterating his infamous claim that “Ghanaians have short memories”,  and will easily forget any untruths.

In an audio capturing the voice of the former President allegedly  speaking to his campaigners, Mr. Mahama is heard saying: “Ghanaians have short memories; you can always lie to them today, and by tomorrow, they will forget,” emphasizing the need for NDC members to “finish hard” by sticking to this strategy.

He is also heard adding, “The Ashantis are believing the lies and are coming out to support. So, let’s finish hard.”

The leaked tape also features Mr. Mahama purportedly discussing plans to dismiss security officers en masse if the NDC returns to power. “For the security forces, let’s finish the elections, and we can flush them out,” Mr Mahama allegedly indicated.

This also follows prior comments by NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who, in August 2024, threatened to sack all newly recruited security personnel under the current administration.

Addressing residents of Boso in the Asuogyaman constituency, Mr. Nketiah accused the NPP of filling security services with “party boys”, and vowed to reverse these appointments.

Similarly, in July 2020, the NDC’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, issued a warning to security agencies, stating, “The day President Akufo-Addo exits office will be the last day they serve as policemen and military men, and we will deal with them mercilessly.”

In December 2013, while addressing a congregation at the Revival Restoration Centre of the Assemblies of God Church in Accra, Mr Mahama described Ghanaians as having “short memories.” At the time, he remarked, “The country has had a challenging year… Very often in Ghana, we have a very short memory.”

The repeated invocation of the phrase “short memory” by Mr. Mahama has become a point of contention, with critics accusing him of disrespecting the intelligence of voters.

Members of the NPP have condemned the alleged remarks, describing them as a betrayal of public trust.

NPP Communications Director Richard Ahiagbah stated, “This audio confirms what we have always known: the NDC’s strategy is built on deceit and manipulation.”

Meanwhile, some political analysts have called for a thorough investigation into the authenticity of the tape, and challenged the NDC to address the allegations directly.