A strong supporter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), flagbearer Frank Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as Appiah Stadium, has explained why the party’s flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama, means so much to him.
Appiah Stadium revealed that Mahama’s actions saved his life, even when he was a member of the NPP and spoke out against the government of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills at the time.
During an interview with Kumasi-based R TV Ghana on July 12, 2024, Appiah Stadium, with tears in his eyes, shared that a notorious gang member had threatened his life, and it was Mahama’s intervention that saved him.
“If God wills it and John Mahama becomes president and serves his term, I will follow him to his hometown, Bole. He (Mahama) is like a father to me, and I say this because he is like a god to me on this earth.
“I used to be a member of the NPP, but I left to join the NDC for a serious reason. My car was set on fire, and I was almost killed. CD, a feared man in Kumasi, took my car and burned it in broad daylight while I was working for the NPP. The case went to court, but no one was willing to testify on my behalf. I feared for my life and moved to Accra, only returning to Kumasi for court proceedings every two weeks,” he narrated in Twi.
He continued, “One day, I received a call from a private number while I was sleeping. The caller identified himself as John Mahama and asked how much my car was worth. I told him 49 million. He said someone else would call me. Samuel Sampong then called me and said Mr. Mahama wanted to give me 90 million… so when President Mills passed away, he called and said he needed my support, and I told him I was already going to support him.”
The NPP-turned-NDC supporter shared that since becoming close to Mahama, the former president had taken away all his shame and that of his family.
He mentioned that one of the things people used to tease him about was his inability to have children, but with the help of the former president, he was able to overcome this significant challenge.
“I said I would go to hell if it meant Mahama would become president because I told him people laughed at me for not being able to have children. There was a doctor who could help remove fibroids from my wife’s womb, but we had to take her to Holland. He (Mahama) paid for my wife’s visa and a ticket to have the surgery, and now we have two children.
“When my mother passed away, Mahama was at a meeting of former presidents in South Africa. He left the meeting, even though he was supposed to give a speech, and came to mourn with me. If someone has done so much for me, what can’t I do for them.”
Watch his full remarks in the video below:
