It appears that elements within the opposition National Democratic Congress are plotting the defeat of the party’s 2020 flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama, in this year’s general election, in order to advance an “Agenda 2024”.

Originally, “Agenda 2024” was intended to deal a killer punch to the NPP, using demonstrations and dirty propaganda to soften the governing party to swallow anticipated defeat in 2024, with Mr Mahama becoming President again.

Unknown to Mr Mahama, certain kingpins and strategists in the party around him are said to have constructed a “Plan B” from the original arrangement to push him over the edge of a precipice in December, using subtle means.

Those spearheading the plot are clandestinely plotting the defeat of the former President so that they can field their preferred candidate in the 2024 general election.

The plot was revealed yesterday by the party’s former Central Regional chairman, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo morning show.

Seeds of disunity

A livid Jacobs, who could not hide his anger over the development, said one of the measures to execute the hidden agenda is the deliberate sowing of seeds of division among the party rank and file.

He alleged that the people conspiring against the former President are the same people who are currently around him and working with him.

Even attempts by the show’s host, Kwame Sefa Kayi, and his co-panellist Kwaku Baako Jnr to get him to control his temper did not work, as a frustrated Jacobs continued to spill top secrets of the NDC.

He said many key members of the party had never wanted Mr Mahama to become the 2020 flagbearer, and have not relented in their efforts to scuttle his “comeback ambition”.

The very people seeking Mr Mahama’s downfall are those who caused the friction between him when he was Vice-President and Koku Anyidoho, the then communications director of President John Evans Atta Mills, Mr Jacobs alleged.

“The very people who created the problem between Koku Anyidoho and then Vice-President John Mahama have now surrounded Mahama … I want them to know that we are aware of the Agenda 2024,” he said.

Deliberate demonstration

Mr Jacobs further disclosed that the ongoing protests and organised resistance against the Electoral Commission’s plan to compile a new voters’ register and other demonstrations are part of a broader scheme to hurt the NDC flagbearer’s presidential ambitions.

He warned that those loyal to the former President will not sit down for him to be brought down by the greedy few.

“The voters’ registration [noise] is one way of undermining John Mahama and I have informed him … If NDC foot soldiers don’t wake up, they will be gnashing their teeth. Because people have ‘Agenda 2024’; they have bought cars and all that, waiting to strike.

“When you create a maze of confusion, it leads you into a labyrinth where there is no exit. We will destroy that agenda. They didn’t want John to come and now that he is the flagbearer, they are telling us we are rather against him. If you cultivate sycophancy, you will catch a straw,” he said.

Ablakwa-Omane-Kwakye plot

Mr Jacobs also alleged that there have been several plots against him since when he was Central Regional chairman of the NDC.

In the era of the late President Mills, he said, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, Omane Boamah, the former Minister of Communications, and Felix Ofosu Kwakye, the former deputy communications minister and now NDC parliamentary nominee for Abura Asebu Kwamankese in the Central Region, went to the former President to prevail upon him to stop Mr Jacobs from speaking on behalf of the NDC.

He insisted that the only people who can stop him from appearing on radio and television shows for the party are the hosts and producers.

Mr Jacobs further alleged that other bigwigs in the party wanted the late President Mills to sack him from his position as a member of the board of directors of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

He cautioned NDC members to be particularly careful in their dealings with certain leaders of the party, saying they “are the problems” of the NDC.