The defeated presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC) has blamed his inability to win the just ended presidential election on political monetization. Dr. Edward Mahama told Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng that prior to the elections, he had a lot of goodwill from a number of voters, especially in the north, but all hopes were dashed after the NPP and the NDC tainted the beauty of the race with money. “I lost the election because I didn’t have as much money as the other parties, not because Ghanaians wanted deliberately to deceive me; and you know and I know T-shirts and transport money played a major role in this election.” Citing Yendi for instance, where he claimed “monies were flowing and things that were happening in there,” he remarked: “I don’t blame them, the poverty level is too high.” “We are dealing with moneytocracy and everybody is saying Edward Mahama doesn’t have the money but it is not only peculiar to Ghana. Obama won the election in the US because he raised more money than McCain. So money speaks my brother.” He alleged that on the day of election itself, money exchanged hands. Even though the December 7 presidential election was his fourth consecutive defeat as a presidential contestant, Dr. Mahama is far from retiring from his ambition to become Ghana’s president. He said he was “not shocked” by the outcome of the elections, he was however “disappointed” in his dwindling fortunes. But this would not stop him from building confidence in the Ghanaian electorate. “Yes, I trust Ghanaians,” Dr. Mahama reaffirmed his conviction in Ghanaians to give him their mandate some day. The PNC flag-bearer said he would be soothing his wounds within the next two weeks, and thereafter, take a decisive resolution on how to pursue his political career effectively. Dr. Mahama said he was accomplished by his participation in Ghanaian politics, although it has not benefited him financially - it has enabled him to contribute to the development of Ghana’s politics. Story by Isaac Essel