President Akufo-Addo’s dangerous rhetoric: Unbridled arrogance

When Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang accused the governing New Patriotic Party of unbridled arrogance and bare-faced hypocrisy, she did not say that in a vacuum. These are the some of the ills currently festering in this country under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Democracy is about respecting the will of the majority of the people willingly or unwillingly.

The recent pronouncement made by President Akufo-Addo to the effect that he will not pass on the presidency to his predecessor, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is the perfect description of arrogance and lack of respect for the will of the people.

In an address to the chiefs and people of Wa, President Akufo-Addo arrogantly and undemocratically stated that he would not hand over power to John Dramani Mahama, whom he defeated and ousted from office in 2016.

"Wa Naa, you know that the man I removed from the seat, I cannot have him as my successor and as a traditional ruler, and you understand what I am saying. “He arrogantly said, this is disgusting, nauseating and dangerous for our democracy. Unbridled arrogance and unrestrained impunity

This statement must be condemned by the National Peace Council, The Christian Council, and office of the Chief Imam, the Ahmadiya Movement, the National House of Chiefs and all well-meaning Ghanaians.

All Civil Service Organisations and stakeholders must condemn the president’s unfortunate comment in order to preserve the peace we have been enjoying.

President Akufo-Addo should be reminded that, former president John Dramani Mahama passed on the presidency to him despite defeating him in 2012. Former president John Agyekum Kufour passed on the president to late president John Evans Atta Mills despite defeating him (Mills) in 2000 and 2004.

Late former president Jerry John Rawlings passed on power to the NPP and former president John Agyekum Kufour despite defeating them in 1992 and 1996.

What makes President Akufo-Addo think he is so special that, he wouldn’t hand over power to someone he has defeated before, when the same person handed over power to him after previously defeating him? Bare-faced arrogance of the highest order.

If politics was about not handing over to someone you have defeated before, President Akufo-Addo would never have been a president after losing to H.E. John Dramani Mahama in 2012.

This is shear arrogance, chicanery and a dangerous rhetoric that should not be emanating from a man of his political background, age and experience. The president should not dream of subverting the will of the people because “the power of the people is stronger than the people in power”.

Ghana does not belong to any particular individual, tribe, clan, political party or class. The comment by the president is unacceptable, undemocratic and disheartening.

The president should be reminded that whatever decision the good people of Ghana make on 7^th December 2024 must be respected.