The Father, The Son, And The Unholy Family In Ghanaian Politics

In Ghana's political history, Kwame Nkrumah is regarded as a visionary, political thinker, and African statesman. He was the Gold Coast's prime minister from 1952 until 1957, the year the country obtained its independence from Britain. However, his bitter experiences with his coworkers, such as Edward Akufo Addo, one of the "Big Six," who was among those who struggled for Ghana's independence and the son of the country's former president, Akufo Addo, were not well documented.

The Akufo Addo family was undoubtedly one of Kwame Nkrumah's most hostile political hyenas, which made implementing his goals difficult. Edward Akufo Addo and other members of the family never agreed with Nkrumah on matters about Ghana's development, which caused problems for his objectives. For example, "Akanland" was the name the family preferred when Ghana gained independence, according to Kwasi Pratt, a seasoned journalist from Ghana.

Nkrumah survived multiple assassinations on his life in an attempt to eliminate him from the political arena. To protect the country from Edward Akufo Addo and his allies from destruction, he was forced to maintain a one-party system. Unfortunately, many Ghanaians failed to realize his motives and instead called him a dictator.

Sons of high-profile politicians, especially in those days, dwelt in the shadows of their parents and used their identities to carry out immoral activities. They court girls and lead false lives, engaging in all forms of unethical behavior despite their inability to pay for it. Since it is well known that Akufo Addo is Edward's son, he had led a lavish lifestyle without obtaining a demanding education. These are some of the reasons Ghanaians have had to pass through eight wasteful years of agony under a tyrant.

Akufo Addo appears focused on destroying Ghana rather than advancing it as promised. He appointed his relative Ken Ofori-Atta as the finance minister to achieve that goal. I simply don't know what Ghanaians expect from a president like Akufo Addo or one who appoints a family member to the position of finance minister. Despite being aware of its catastrophic effects, the former president broke all of his pledges, including his fight against corruption and illicit mining.

Gabby Otchere-Darko, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the former president's children are all involved in serious financial crimes, ranging from widespread corruption to money laundering, which has contributed to the collapse of Ghana's economy, businesses, and investments. Akufo Addo awarded more than 100 licenses to miners just days before he left office, despite the fact that his failure to combat unlawful mining has led to health problems and environmental hazards. Those licenses must be revoked by the new administration.

In the December 2024 elections, the opposition NDC won the presidency by a margin never before seen in Ghanaian political history. This happened because the people wanted to protect the country from further destruction by the NPP or the Akufo Addo-Bawumia government. It is uncertain how long the NDC will rule Ghana, but I do believe that the NPP will remain in opposition for a very long time since the country will never be given to them, either now or in the future.

I don’t care if the majority of NPP politicians are from the family of Akufo Addo, but Ghanaians must ensure that no member of his family is allowed to serve the country. This is because Nkrumah’s experience with Edward and how his son, Akufo Addo, has ruined Ghana beyond remedy, reveal that the family had always been destructive, since it is hereditary.