Akufo-Addo’s Real Legacy: A Retired Senior Citizen’s Response to the NPP’s 2028 Campaign Claim

They say hindsight is 20/20—but in Ghana’s case, 2024 made the vision painfully clear. With the 2028 elections approaching, former MP Eugene Boakye Antwi claims the NPP will campaign on the “legacy” of President Akufo-Addo.

Ghanaians deserve to ask: Legacy of what, exactly?

As a retired Senior Citizen who has lived through the triumphs and betrayals of our young democracy, I assert that the real legacy of this administration is not one of visionary leadership, but of disappointment. It is a legacy embroidered with scandal, stitched with nepotism, and burdened with fiscal recklessness.

From concealed galamsey reports to mismanaged COVID-19 funds, from the weakening of oversight institutions to procurement controversies, this government perfected the art of governance without consequence. Nepotism wasn’t whispered—it was performed openly. Ghana was transformed into a family enterprise, where merit bowed before bloodline. As an Anlo proverb warns, “If the drummer changes his beat, the dancers must change their steps.” But the rhythm of this administration favored the privileged few, while the rest of us were left out of step and out of breath.

On the economic front, hardship became a national language. Ballooning debt, misplaced budget priorities, and presidential extravagance became common features. Pensioners picketed; essential workers begged for fair wages. Yet the President saw nothing wrong with luxurious jets and swelling entourages. This was not mismanagement—it was indifference draped in authority.

Now the NPP proclaims, “We have the men.” But where are they? Look closely: the current lineup of presidential hopefuls is haunted by unresolved baggage. Some carry scandals like heirlooms; others have lost public trust long before ballots are printed. To borrow our own image—some have cotton at their backside and are attempting to leap over fire.

Talk, indeed, is cheap. So is branding failure as legacy.

The people spoke in 2024. That election was a referendum on arrogance, neglect, and the erosion of trust. As the old Ghanaian proverb reminds us, “You can’t cover smoke with your hand—the fire will betray you.”

To Ghana’s Youth: Carry the Torch—With Fire

To the young Ghanaians—students, entrepreneurs, first-time voters, digital warriors—this is your moment. The weight of Ghana’s future no longer belongs to those who broke promises and buried potential. “When the house is on fire,” Chinua Achebe warned, “do not waste time chasing rats.” Focus not on recycled slogans but on fresh resolve.

As ABA Fuseini would echo in poetic Dagomba fashion, “When a blind man says he will throw a stone at you, he has already stepped on one.” Beware those declaring victory while stepping on legacies of broken trust.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34). Ghana doesn’t need more slogans—we need a moral economy and visionary service. We cannot build a new nation with old tools of deception.

As Barack Obama told Africa’s youth: “You can’t wait for good governance. You have to demand it.” And demand it we must.

Let this be our legacy—not one of silence, but of purposeful resistance, principled renewal, and undying hope. The torch is in your hands now. Carry it—not with fear, but with fire.

Author’s Note:
Atitso C. Akpalu, a retired senior citizen currently residing in Teshie-Nungua a very proud Voltarian from Tegbi, remains an active civic voice advocating for justice, transparency, and structural reform in Ghana. With deep roots in Ghana’s labor and governance landscape, I blend moral clarity with structured insight to engage citizens in bold, visionary discourse.