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While
the
United
States
sits
on
a
knife
edge,
an
assassination
attempt
on
the
life
of
former
President
Donald
Trump
has
complicated
what
was
already
a
tense
political
atmosphere,
Former
President
John
Dramani
Mahama
has
said.
The
incident
is
still
being
investigated
for
motive,
but
it
demonstrates
the
possible
outturn
of
intense
electoral
passions
and
enthusiasm,
even
in
the
world’s
most
powerful
democracy,
the
flagbearer
of
the
National
Democratic
Congress
said.
Trump
was
shot
at
during
a
rally
in
Pennsylvania,
with
Secret
Service
agents
swarming
the
former
president
after
a
series
of
gunshots.
He
was
quickly
bundled
off
stage
and
into
a
waiting
vehicle
and
has
since
returned
home
to
New
Jersey.
The
FBI
say
they
are
treating
the
incident
as
an
assassination
attempt.
In
a
post
to
his
Truth
Social
network,
Trump
said
a
bullet
pierced
the
“upper
part”
of
his
right
ear.
Earlier,
his
spokesperson
said
he
was
receiving
treatment
at
a
local
medical
centre.
“I
knew
immediately
that
something
was
wrong
in
that
I
heard
a
whizzing
sound,
shots,
and
immediately
felt
the
bullet
ripping
through
the
skin,”
Trump
wrote.
“Much
bleeding
took
place,
so
I
realized
then
what
was
happening.”
Blood
was
clearly
visible
on
Trump’s
ear
and
face
as
protection
officers
rushed
him
away.
The
FBI
statement
added
that
the
incident
is
an
“active
and
ongoing
investigation”.
Pennsylvania
police
say
there
are
no
further
threats
following
the
shooting.
The
suspect
was
shot
dead
at
the
scene
by
US
Secret
Service
officers,
the
agency’s
spokesperson
Anthony
Guglielmi
said.
He
added
that
one
bystander
was
killed
in
the
shooting
and
two
others
were
critically
injured.
In
a
statement,
Mr
Mahama
said
“What
happened
in
Pennsylvania
makes
me
think
even
more
about
the
upcoming
elections
in
our
country
and
what
we
must
do
to
have
free,
peaceful
elections
and
a
smooth
transition.
“Ghana’s
competitive
advantage
rests
on
three
main
pillars:
its
people,
its
bountiful
natural
resources,
and
its
adherence
to
the
motto
of
Freedom
and
Justice.”
Below
is
his
full
statement…
The
United
States
is
approaching
the
presidential
election
in
November
this
year.
The
stakes
have
never
been
this
high,
reflected
in
the
very
partisan
and
tense
political
rhetoric
on
both
sides
of
the
Democratic
and
Republican
divide.
While
the
US
sits
on
a
knife
edge,
an
assassination
attempt
on
the
life
of
former
President
Donald
Trump
has
complicated
what
was
already
a
tense
political
atmosphere.
The
incident
is
still
being
investigated
for
motive,
but
it
demonstrates
the
possible
outturn
of
intense
electoral
passions
and
enthusiasm,
even
in
the
world’s
most
powerful
democracy.
What
happened
in
Pennsylvania
makes
me
think
even
more
about
the
upcoming
elections
in
our
country
and
what
we
must
do
to
have
free,
peaceful
elections
and
a
smooth
transition.
Ghana’s
competitive
advantage
rests
on
three
main
pillars:
its
people,
its
bountiful
natural
resources,
and
its
adherence
to
the
motto
of
Freedom
and
Justice.
The
first
two
are
endowments
given
to
us
by
the
Almighty
God—hardworking
and
peaceful
people
who
deserve
to
live
a
better
life
than
they
have
now.
Rich
and
varied
natural
resources
should
be
exploited
to
bring
prosperity
to
the
many
and
not
just
a
few.
However,
justice
and
freedom
are
constructs
that
we
depend
on
ourselves
to
preserve.
We
have
become
accustomed
to
being
admired
by
our
African
neighbours
when
they
call
us
a
beacon
of
democracy,
which
encapsulates
the
principles
of
justice
and
freedom.
We
bask
in
the
accolades
but
are
often
oblivious
that
justice
and
freedom
are
principles
that
require
constant
work
to
maintain.
As
a
people,
we
must
exercise
eternal
vigilance
to
protect
our
precious
possessions
of
justice
and
freedom.
This
is
why
I
continue
to
advocate
peace
and
decorum
in
our
political
discourse,
especially
in
the
run-up
to
high-stakes
elections
such
as
those
we
face
in
December
this
year.
Our
nation
is
stronger
in
its
diversity,
and
we
must
never
forget
that
our
common
objective
is
a
peaceful
and
prosperous
Ghana.
Resetting
our
nation,
rebuilding
our
shattered
economy,
strengthening
our
currency,
supporting
our
farmers,
reducing
the
burden
of
taxes,
and
creating
decent
and
well-paid
jobs
for
our
young
people
are
agendas
that
are
complicated
enough
to
require
our
united
and
undivided
attention.
Free
elections
that
allow
our
people
to
express
their
sovereign
will
are
absolutely
necessary
for
sustaining
justice
and
freedom
in
our
dear
nation,
Ghana.
This
is
why
I
persistently
raise
the
red
flag
whenever
I
observe
actions
that
have
the
potential
to
subvert
our
people’s
sovereign
will.
The
politicisation
of
the
Electoral
Commission,
the
Supreme
Court,
and
other
state
institutions
involved
in
the
December
elections
under
the
Akufo-Addo/Bawumia
administration
are
developments
that
do
not
inspire
confidence
that
the
will
of
the
would
be
allowed
to
prevail.
To
paraphrase
Shakespeare,
this
world
is
a
stage,
and
we
all
are
actors
who
would
come
on
stage,
play
different
roles,
and
disappear
after
our
acts
are
over.
This
overbearing
attitude
and
delusions
of
grandeur
that
make
some
people
believe
that
this
nation
is
a
personal
possession
bequeathed
to
them
has
no
place
in
our
politics.
We
shall
all
come
and
go,
but
the
nation
of
Ghana
will
remain
forever
and
pass
on
to
generations
yet
unborn.
Ghana
is
not
our
personal
possession,
just
as
it
was
not
that
of
our
ancestors.
It
belongs
to
all
of
us
and
the
many
who
will
come
after
us.
_______
John
Dramani
Mahama
is
a
former
President
of
Ghana
and
leader
of
the
opposition
National
Democratic
Congress
(NDC).
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
@JDMahama
X:
@JDMahama
TikTok:
@JDMahama
IG:
@OfficialJDMahama
YouTube:
@MahamaTV
Website:
www.johnmahama.org