Forgive Me and Accept Me as One of Your Own” — Owusu Bempah Apologises to President Mahama and NDC

Political commentator Owusu Bempah has publicly apologised to President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), acknowledging that his previous criticism of the president became excessive and, in his view, unfair.

Speaking on Angel FM, Bempah reflected on his political commentary between 2020 and the 2024 elections, admitting that he frequently directed harsh remarks and personal attacks at Mahama. He said he now regrets the manner in which he expressed his opposition and believes his comments were influenced heavily by partisan emotions.

Bempah directly appealed to Mahama for forgiveness, acknowledging that the intensity of his criticism went beyond what he now considers acceptable political discourse.

For years, Bempah was known for his outspoken opposition to Mahama and the NDC. He regularly participated in radio discussions and political programmes where he criticised Mahama’s leadership, governance record and political decisions, often employing strong language.

However, Bempah said his assessment of the president has changed after observing the administration since it assumed office. He claimed that what he has seen during the period has caused him to reconsider several of his earlier positions.

The political commentator praised what he described as improvements in the administration’s coordination, leadership style and approach to governance. He went as far as describing Mahama’s current administration as unlike anything he had personally witnessed in Ghana since independence.

Bempah also sought to distance his comments from formal partisan politics. He stated that he does not occupy an official position within either the New Patriotic Party (NPP) or the NDC, describing himself instead as a private citizen and political commentator.

He argued that political commentators should be willing to reassess their positions when circumstances change. In his view, acknowledging that one was wrong should not be regarded as a weakness but as part of responsible public commentary.

Beyond his apology to Mahama, Bempah also used the discussion to caution political communicators against excessive personal attacks, misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric. He argued that such behaviour can contribute to political division and weaken the quality of democratic debate.

He encouraged commentators and political actors to focus more on substantive criticism while remaining willing to acknowledge positive developments when they occur. According to him, political disagreements should not prevent individuals from recognising actions they consider beneficial to the country.

The apology has attracted mixed reactions. Some observers have welcomed Bempah’s willingness to publicly acknowledge his past conduct, while others have questioned whether the change in position will be sustained over time. Some NDC supporters have also welcomed the statement but remain mindful of his previous comments about Mahama.

Bempah, however, maintained that his apology was motivated by personal conviction rather than political convenience. He insisted that his approach going forward would be to assess political leadership based on what he observes rather than allowing previous loyalties or disagreements to determine his commentary.

His public change of tone has consequently renewed discussions about political accountability, the responsibilities of media commentators and the importance of acknowledging mistakes in Ghana’s highly competitive political environment.