The Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, says he is pleased to see John Mahama back in office, describing the development as an opportunity for Ghana to reset its path towards national development.
Speaking in an interview on the programme Changes on Friday, 13 March, the legislator reflected on his political journey, his frustrations with governance, and his belief that the country has the potential to achieve far more than it currently has.
A Plus said entering politics has not softened his criticism of leadership and state institutions. Rather, he noted that his experience in Parliament has deepened his frustration with the pace of national progress.
“I am more angry than I was before I entered politics,” he said. “Now that I am in Parliament, I know that we can build this country. We should be able to build this country. I don’t understand why this country is where it is.”
The Gomoa Central MP also criticised what he described as entrenched political divisions in Ghana, particularly among young people who strongly identify with the two dominant political parties — the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
According to him, rigid loyalty to political parties does little to promote national development.
“When I see young people out there saying ‘I’m NPP, I’m NDC’, I just laugh,” he said.
A Plus maintained that his political position has always been independent and guided by what he believes is in the best interest of the country rather than loyalty to any political group.
During the interview, he suggested that influential individuals and independent political actors often play a decisive role in determining who eventually comes to power.
“There are some of us — if we are not part of your government — you will never come to power,” he said. “Your foot soldiers can make all the noise, but when we decide that this person is coming to power, that is what happens.”
He cited his own political activism as an example, noting that he has openly campaigned both for and against leaders depending on their performance.
A Plus recalled that he had previously campaigned against President Mahama but later became a vocal critic of the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo when, in his view, the government failed to meet expectations.
“I campaigned against John Mahama, but when Akufo-Addo came and was not doing what was right, I campaigned against him,” he said.
He further claimed that he and other like-minded figures helped shape the political climate ahead of Mahama’s return to power.
The MP also commented on the political prospects of former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, suggesting that any future presidential bid would require broader support beyond the traditional party base.
“Before Bawumia will come to power, you will need me,” he said, arguing that political strategy and influence from independent actors can play a decisive role in electoral outcomes.
Despite his earlier opposition to Mahama, A Plus said he now feels optimistic about Ghana’s prospects under the current administration.
“I am excited that John Mahama is President of Ghana,” he stated.
According to him, Mahama’s current term could be shaped by a desire to leave a lasting legacy, particularly given the limited time available to deliver meaningful change.
A Plus also suggested that Ghana’s presidential term limits can influence how leaders approach governance.
“Most people, in their first term they perform. But there is no incentive to perform in their second term because they are leaving,” he said. “So it becomes the ‘galamsey period’ — let’s just chop and go.”
The MP argued that Ghana’s development challenges require sustained leadership and strategic thinking — something he believes can be difficult to achieve within a single four-year term.
“I wish he could be President for more than four years,” A Plus said of Mahama. “It takes a lot of common sense, it takes a lot of wisdom, it takes a certain mindset to develop this country when you have just one term.”