Ghana’s president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has sparked outrage for making statements that imply some regions of the country are not entitled to development because they did not vote for his ruling party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The president has been touring the country to inspect ongoing projects and inaugurate new ones, as well as to solicit votes for his party ahead of the 2024 general elections.
However, his comments during some of his visits have been met with criticism and condemnation from various quarters, including civil society groups, opposition parties, and ordinary citizens.
Snubbing the Ashanti Region
In the Ashanti Region, the stronghold of his party, the president made his first controversial remark when he snubbed some residents who demanded their fair share of the national cake.
The president told them that they should not expect any development projects from his government if they continue to vote against the NPP parliamentary candidates in their constituencies.
He said that his government would only prioritize areas that support his party, and dared the residents to vote against the NPP in the next elections.
The people of the region, who have been loyal to his party for decades, saw his comment as an insult and a threat, and expect him to deliver on his campaign promises.
Admitting Failure in the Volta and Central Regions
In the Volta Region, the stronghold of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the president admitted that his government had failed to bring development to the region.
He blamed the situation on the people’s failure to vote for the NPP candidates in the previous elections and urged them to change their voting pattern if they want to see development in their area.
He stated that his government would only work with the regions that gave him the mandate to govern and accused the NDC of leaving the Volta Region behind because of its loyalty to the party
In the Central Region, a swing region that voted for him in 2020 but has since been dissatisfied with his performance, the president repeated a similar remark.
He said that the region had not seen much development because it did not vote for enough NPP parliamentary candidates and that his government would only focus on the constituencies that gave him a majority.
Facing Backlash from the Ghana Federation of Labour
The president’s divisive remarks have drawn the ire of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), a leading trade union that represents workers’ interests in the country.
The GFL secretary general, Mr. Abraham Koomson, described the president’s statements as “democratically incorrect” and “impeachable”, and accused him of undermining the tenets of the 1992 Constitution.
He said that the president had sworn an oath to represent all Ghanaians and seek their welfare and that it was unacceptable for him to discriminate against some regions based on their voting patterns.
He also criticized the president’s administration as “super incompetent”, judging from the economic crisis the country is facing, and the government’s imposition of taxes on everything.
Mr. Abraham Koomsone called on parliament to begin a process to impeach the president and urged the people to vote him out in the next elections.
Seeking a Second Term in Office
The president, who is seeking a second term in office, has not responded to the backlash from his remarks and has continued his tour of the country.
He has been touting his achievements in various sectors, such as education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture, and promising to do more if re-elected.
He has also been appealing to the people to give him another four years to consolidate his gains and complete his agenda of building a prosperous and peaceful Ghana.
However, his critics have dismissed his claims as lies and propaganda and accused him of failing to deliver on his promises and plunging the country into debt and hardship.
They have also challenged him to address the issues affecting the people, such as unemployment, corruption, insecurity, and poor governance, and to stop making divisive and discriminatory statements. They have vowed to hold him accountable for his actions and words and to vote for change in the 2024 elections.
Despite the political tension and uncertainty in the country, many Ghanaians are still hopeful for a better future. They are looking forward to a peaceful and credible electoral process, and a smooth transition of power, regardless of the outcome.
Source: Modern Ghana
