Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Asian Studies, at the University of Ghana (UG), Dr. Seidu Mahama Alidu has urged the campaign team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mamahudu Bawumia and the party executives to defend comments and policies of president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that negatively affect Ghanaians ahead of the 2024 general elections.
He believes some comments have dire implications which have tarnished the image of the NPP and may affect the party in the December 7 polls.
Speaking to Citi Fm, Dr. Seidu Alidu stated that the current NPP National leadership will have a lot of ‘explaining’ to do going into election 2024 in addressing the President’s partisan comments.
“While you transition from a political party in a campaign to a political party forming a government, the language is different. But I do believe that the current flagbearer of the NPP and the national executives and almost all the executives of the NPP will have a lot to explain in dealing with some of these issues. Not because they think that you don’t even need votes in the volta region whiles you are able to manage the strong holds, you get Ashanti, you get the Eastern, you get greater Accra, you get Central you can, fine you can justify that but the issue is that the political capital that people will make out of this pronouncement will maybe divert your attention in selling your campaign promises and what you intend to do and focus on how to defending this” He said.
His comment comes after president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said he did not do more development for the people of Ekumfi in the central region because the people there voted Francis Ato Cudjoe out of parliament in the 2020 elections.
Speaking with traditional leaders from Ekumfi at the Jubilee House, Mr Akufo-Addo indicated that he is disappointed over the defeat of Ato Cudjoe.
“Ato Cudjoe was your MP and I made him a Deputy Minister and you voted him out in the last elections, and because of that, I did not pay attention to development in your area. I have to be honest with you, but since you have brought it up, I will pay attention to it.” Nana Addo said.
But the lecturer understands that political parties can be selective on location of developmental projects but you can not say you didn’t vote for me so you will not get anything.
“You can be very selective, the fact that citation of projects in a specific area, or specific constituency or region could be political or based on support but development must actually go there. So if the president decides to do a lot of developmental projects in the volta region, and go and do it Hohoe constituency because the MP there is an NPP, at least development has gone there but that is different from saying that because you didn’t vote for me you won’t get anything” He said.
Again president akufo-Addo made partisan comments when he visited flood victims in the Volta Region.
“When these things happen and the government acts, politics does not come in at all. I took the oath of office as president to protect every citizen of Ghana, whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath, I am the president. So Togbe, I want you and your elders and the people to understand that the government is acting for all Ghanaians,” he said.
“I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering and it is my responsibility to try and help, because if it is a question of who votes for me and who does not vote for me, I should not be here because you don’t vote for me, that is not my concern. And, in any event, one day you will vote for me and my party.”” the President added.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
