Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, a senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has sharply criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo’s performance, describing it as the “worst” in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Dr. Kennedy argues that Akufo-Addo’s leadership has become an obstacle for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign for the presidency, labeling the president’s legacy as a “burden” that has made Bawumia’s path to victory significantly more difficult.
Speaking on Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, November 30, 2024, Dr. Kennedy stated, “President Akufo-Addo is clearly the worst President in the Fourth Republic. His performance has become an albatross around the neck of Dr. Bawumia.”
He emphasized that Bawumia, who is the NPP’s presidential candidate for the upcoming 2024 elections, is struggling under the weight of Akufo-Addo’s policies, which have failed to live up to the high expectations set during his first term.
Dr. Kennedy’s statement came after months of growing discontent within the party regarding the government’s handling of key issues, such as the economy, infrastructure projects, and governance.
Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political science professor at the University of Ghana, also weighed in during the same show, accusing President Akufo-Addo of squandering the public’s initial trust.
Gyampo described Akufo-Addo as having deceived the electorate to secure the presidency, only to squander the political goodwill he had at the start of his term. According to Gyampo, Akufo-Addo’s failure to deliver on key promises, including job creation and economic stability, has led to public disillusionment.
In a related discussion on the National Cathedral Project, which has become a contentious issue in the run-up to the elections, North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also weighed in.
Ablakwa has been a vocal critic of the project, which was promised by President Akufo-Addo as a national monument of faith. Ablakwa accused the president of misleading the board of trustees—many of whom are prominent clergymen—regarding the funding and purpose of the project. He argued that while the clergymen were deceived, the ultimate responsibility for the project’s failure lies with the president.
“The eminent clergymen have served well and distinguished themselves, but here we are, they are now faced with possible prosecution,” Ablakwa said. “President Akufo-Addo is the one who must be made to pay for this mess.” Ablakwa further stated that the government must immediately stop paying salaries to members of the National Cathedral Board, as the project has been stalled for over 30 months, and the public has raised serious concerns about its financial mismanagement.
Ablakwa also demanded that the government refund the $58 million that was allocated to the National Cathedral project, which has been under intense scrutiny following the release of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) report.
The report highlighted several procurement irregularities, including the illegal awarding of the construction contract to Ribade Company Ltd. CHRAJ has called for the cancellation of the contract, as it did not comply with Ghana’s public procurement laws.
“The $58 million spent on the National Cathedral project must be retrieved. We cannot allow taxpayer money to be wasted on an illegal contract,” said Ablakwa, emphasizing that this was a matter of national accountability.
The CHRAJ report also raised concerns over potential legal actions against the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, suggesting that their involvement in the project may result in criminal charges due to violations of public procurement laws.
The National Cathedral project has long been a source of controversy in Ghana, with many questioning the use of public funds for what some see as a highly ambitious and unnecessary project in the midst of economic challenges.
President Akufo-Addo has faced significant backlash from the public, who have raised concerns about the prioritization of the cathedral over more urgent national needs, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
As the 2024 elections approach, the National Cathedral issue, along with the growing discontent over Akufo-Addo’s leadership, could play a significant role in shaping voter sentiment. With Bawumia trying to distance himself from the controversies surrounding the president’s tenure, these issues are expected to remain a key talking point in the final weeks of the election campaign.
