A First Lady’s Disgrace: Rebecca Akufo-Addo’s Arrogance Mirrors Her Husband’s Legacy

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) by outgoing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was supposed to be a solemn reflection on his administration’s stewardship over the past eight years. Instead, it became a platform for more of the half-truths, spin, and self-congratulations that have defined his presidency. Yet, what stole the spotlight that day was not the president’s speech but the unbecoming conduct of the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

In a display of arrogance and thinly veiled disdain, the First Lady confronted Deputy Minority Leader Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, ostensibly over remarks he made in response to the president’s address. She was also seen refusing to shake the Speaker of Parliament’s hand—a gesture that reeks of disrespect not only to the Speaker but to the institution of parliament itself.

This behaviour is not just disappointing; it is emblematic of the arrogance and entitlement that have defined the Akufo-Addo administration. The First Lady’s actions on the day of the SONA confirm what many Ghanaians have long suspected: she complements her husband perfectly in arrogance, divisiveness, and a sense of superiority.

Over the past eight years, President Akufo-Addo has ruled not as a servant of the people but as a monarch. His disregard for accountability, his vindictive targeting of dissenting voices, and his divisive rhetoric have alienated Ghanaians across the political spectrum. Rebecca Akufo-Addo’s conduct shows that she, too, sees herself above reproach, incapable of accepting criticism or dissent.

Hon. Armah Kofi Buah’s reaction to the president’s SONA captured the mood of the nation perfectly:

“The people of Ghana have already given their verdict on the true state of the nation, and that verdict is very clear: economic hardship, a huge debt overhang, youth unemployment, hopelessness, and more. We have come to the end of the road of what has been undoubtedly the worst government under the Fourth Republic. This administration’s abysmal record was confirmed on December 7 when the people of Ghana returned the most overwhelming and emphatic vote of rejection of any government ever witnessed under the Fourth Republic.”

The outgoing president’s true legacy is not the fabricated achievements he touted in parliament. It is the hardship, corruption, and hopelessness he leaves behind. His presidency will be remembered as a period when public trust in government eroded, national unity was fractured, and the economy was driven to the brink of collapse.

Rebecca Akufo-Addo’s actions on that day underscore her complicity in this legacy. She has stood by a president who ruled with arrogance, never once using her position to encourage humility or bridge divides. Instead, her behaviour mirrors her husband’s—both see themselves as lords and monarchs, accountable to no one and untouchable by criticism.

But here’s the reality they both must face: their days in office are numbered. Come January 7, 2025, they will leave Jubilee House, not as celebrated statesmen but as symbols of a failed administration. The Akufo-Addos must come down from their high horses and face the truth of their legacy. Ghana will remember them, not for their titles or their office, but for the arrogance and hardship they inflicted on a struggling nation.

The First Lady’s refusal to shake the Speaker’s hand and her confrontational behaviour towards Hon. Armah Kofi Buah were acts of disrespect unbefitting her office. Her actions undermine the dignity of a position that should symbolize grace and unity. They reveal a character steeped in entitlement, incapable of humility or reflection.

As the Akufo-Addos prepare to exit the stage, they must confront the judgment of history. Their legacy is not the National Cathedral, which remains a monument to mismanagement. It is not economic recovery, which exists only in their imagination. It is the harsh reality of a country left worse than they found it.

To Rebecca Akufo-Addo and her husband, the message is simple: your arrogance has been rejected, your divisiveness has been condemned, and your reign is over. The people of Ghana have spoken, and their verdict is final. History will judge you harshly, and the country will move forward without you.