In the early hours of Monday, the 12th of June, The Chief of Mempeasem, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw VI, issues an unqualified apology to the President and the people of Ghana. His wrongdoing was that he failed to stand up t pay respects as the national anthem of Ghana was played at a ceremony.
President Akufo-Addo was visibly angry at the Chief as he directed the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to draw the attention of the Chief. This was during the 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Day celebration organized at the University of Ghana.
Initially, reports indicated the President was angry with the Minister but the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) has quickly rubbished those. It is now certain that the anger of President Akufo-Addo was directed at Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw VI, for the reason stated above.
Ghanaians reacted to the incident diversely, just like many others of such nature, especially when politics is always at the fore. However, the act of the President has been generally accepted and described as an act of patriotism. We all must never relent to indicate our utmost fidelity to the symbols of our state.
From another perspective, some Ghanaians were dismissive of the act of the President and brandished it as an act of ‘misdirected patriotism’. The main argument is that the policies of President Akufo-Addo have been far more damaging to the development of Ghana and its cohesion than the mere inaction of a chief. Hence, if anybody was to be accused of a lack of a sense of patriotism, then it should be the President.
It is important to understand that these perspectives always have a political connotation or origin to them. But is the argument valid?
