Mahama was not persuaded by Manhyia to accept defeat in 2016 – Julius Debrah

A former Chief of Staff has denied claims that former President John Dramani Mahama, was persuaded by Manhyia Palace to accept defeat in the 2016 elections.

According to Mr. Julius Debrah, this claim is not supported by the facts.

Julius Debrah in a statement said Mr. Mahama willingly accepted defeat and congratulated then-candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

“I state without equivocation that the decision to concede and congratulate Nana Akufo-Addo even before the official results were declared was taken by President Mahama himself without any persuasion from any quarter,” the statement said in part.

READ ALSO : Video: We intervened to persuade losing a candidate in 2016 polls to accept defeat – Asantehene reveals

Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has revealed his respected Manhyia Palace intervened to persuade the losing candidate in the 2016 general elections to accept defeat.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made the revelation when he delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly on using traditional methods and culture to engender peace in the Ashanti Region and Ghana.

Mr. Debrah maintains this cannot be true even though “the Asantehene has over the years been a very respected interlocutor in Ghana’s multi-party political engagements.”