Kufuor's decision is a wise one - Kpessah-Whyte

Ex-President J.A Kufuor

A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Michael Kpessah-Whyte has described as wise, the decision of former president John Agyekum Kufuor to attend the inaugural ceremony of president-elect John Dramani Mahama.

According to Mr. Kpessah-Whyte, though his party (NPP) has decided to boycott the state event, it would have been suicidal for him (Kufuor) to go with the party's position, due to his position as an ex-president.

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Wednesday announced, the party will not participate in the ceremony of John Mahama and cautioned supporters against attending.

The NPP has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking to invalidate the declaration of president Mahama as president-elect by the Electoral Commission, which it claimed was rigged for President Mahama.

According to the party the decision to show up at the inaugural ceremony will undermine its case in court challenging the election results.

However a statement from the office of the former President Kufuor, who is a member of the NPP, said he will attend the ceremony in his capacity as a former President of the country.

But, speaking on Asempa Fm's Ekosii-Sen on Thursday, Dr. Kpessah-Whyte noted that the decision of the former president to attend the inaugural ceremony of the president, will not be contradictory to that of the party (NPP).

The political science lecturer opined that if the former had declined to attend the ceremony, it would have damaged his leadership credentials forever because, he had occupied the position before.

“Kuffour's position will not be a contradictory of the NPP. He is now more of a statesman than a party person. He was a father of the nation whose ceremony was attended by all so I don't see why he will not attend that of his successors. Though some party members are resisting his attending the ceremony, he should be applauded for ignoring them. I must say that his decision is a wise one as former president of the country,” he bellowed.

Story by Ghana/Asempa FM/Twum-Barima