Julius Debrah Played Key Role in Prez Mahama's Reignited Political Ambition After 2016

Journalist and Political Activist, Paul Adom-Otchere has credited Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah with playing a decisive role in reviving President John Dramani Mahama’s political career following his crushing defeat in the 2016 general elections.
According to him, Mr Debrah was instrumental in persuading the former president to reconsider his apparent decision to step away from the presidential race, insisting that his political journey was far from over.

Speaking about the longstanding relationship between the two men, the journalist said convincing Mr Mahama to make another attempt at the presidency was initially a difficult task, particularly after his defeat by approximately one million votes in the 2016 elections.
The defeat was historic, making Mr Mahama the first sitting president under Ghana’s Fourth Republic to lose a re-election bid. Its magnitude,

Mr Adom-Otchere suggested, had cast serious doubts over the former president’s political future.
He cited a January 2017 front-page publication by the Daily Graphic, reportedly headlined,

“John Mahama is not running for president again, says Ibrahim Mahama,” as an indication of the prevailing perception at the time that the former president was unlikely to seek the presidency again.

Dr Julius Debrah,Chief of Staff

However, Mr Adom-Otchere said Mr Debrah remained convinced that Mr Mahama still had a future in Ghanaian politics and worked behind the scenes in 2017 to persuade him to return to the political arena.

He explained that Mr Debrah subsequently mobilised political support, resources and influential networks within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), helping to position Mr Mahama for the party’s presidential candidature ahead of the 2020 general elections.

The journalist argued that Mr Mahama’s eventual return to the presidential contest and the outcome of the 2020 elections helped restore confidence in his political prospects and strengthened his determination to reclaim the presidency.

Mr Adom-Otchere also pointed to the relationship between the two men as a major factor behind the certainty surrounding Mr Debrah’s appointment as Chief of Staff following the NDC’s victory in the 2024 general elections.

He observed that while there was intense public and media speculation over appointments to key positions, including the Finance Ministry, the Attorney-General’s Department and Majority Leadership, Mr Debrah’s selection as Chief of Staff appeared almost settled.

According to him, several names were being discussed for other influential government positions, but there was little uncertainty about who would occupy the Chief of Staff position because of Mr Debrah’s longstanding political relationship and close personal ties with President Mahama.

He said the confidence surrounding the appointment reflected the trust Mr Debrah had built with the president over the years, particularly his role in keeping Mr Mahama’s political ambitions alive after the setback of 2016.

Mr Adom-Otchere’s account highlights the behind-the-scenes political influence attributed to Mr Debrah in the journey that eventually saw Mr Mahama return to the presidency.