
The public call by the outgoing President, Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians to be ‘Citizens’ but not ‘Spectators’ during his inaugural speech turned out to be a political gimmick. The actions of the outgoing President rather directly negated what he told Ghanaians in 2017 to do.
In the first term of President Akufo-Addo, there was this loud silence of intimidation through deliberate pressure put on critical voices of his government and style of leadership. Some few examples of intimidation from the outgoing Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime are worthy of mention in this short opinion piece.
For instance, the unresolved killing of Ahmed Suale of Tiger Eye PI in 2019 after open threat on his life by Kennedy Agyapong as well as harassment of some Journalists including Manasseh Azuri Awuni, Emmanuel Adjafor Abugri, Emmmanuel Britwum Yaw Obeng Manu, etc. sent strong signals to the Media players to be quiet.
Although outgoing Akufo-Addo promised to use the ‘Anas’ Principle’ before assuming office, he rather silenced and abandoned Anas’ investigative journalistic approach to unearth corruption and crimes during his regime.
It is also vitally important to state that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and statutory bodies like Peace Council, Christian Council, anti-corruption persons in Ghana were not also spared under his regime. Either these institutions and anti-corruption individuals were intentionally compromised or silenced by this government actions. This phenomenon of loud silence prevailing under outgoing Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government is counterproductive to citizens speaking out to ensure that the right things are done in the country.
In the educational sector, Heads of Secondary Schools were also silenced by either forced transfers or told not to say anything about teething challenges e.g., poor food, lack of facilities, ‘double track' effect on learning and teaching, etc. of the poorly implemented Free Senior High school (FSHS) Program. Why should this current government be resisting the REVIEW of the struggling flagship FSHS Program should to make it better? It is not surprising that the FSHS has recorded several avoidable problems.
On the part of the raging high-tech galamsey (HTG) operations, this small-scale mining sector has been highjacked by government functionaries whilst undermining some traditional leaders and other stakeholders in the process. Despite Ghanaians being unhappy about the current troubling situation of HTG, they have lost their decerning voices in the fight against it.
From these few anti-citizen examples cited, it is apparent that outgoing Akufo-Addo did not mean his words that Ghanaians should be Citizens but not be Spectators in the development efforts.
The silenced Ghanaians are simply spectators to how outgoing Akufo-Addo has been running the country in the past 8 years but not Citizens actively participating in how the country should be better managed.
The anger of Ghanaians was massively displayed during the general elections on December 7, 2024 by rejecting this highly insensitive and corrupt regime of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia. Ghanaians have indeed departed from corrupt and dishonest outgoing governing NPP government to a more committed, honest, experienced and visionary incoming NDC government and should be commended for that.
The emphatic endorsement of President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC reflects Citizens’ desire to see change and be part of the resetting and rebuilding agenda of our dear nation come 2025 for inclusive and sustainable development.
Sadly, Ghanaians are simply watching on the wrongful acts of Akufo-Addo and his team for the past 8 years as largely 'Spectators' while this current government feverishly prepares to leave office on January 6, 2024.
Comments
It's rather unfortunate that you still talk about open threats by Kennedy Agyepong, and not mentioning the publisher of the death ,immediately after it happened.