Akufo-Addo is not a dictator – NPP

Nana Akufo-Addo is not a dictator, the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said.

Reacting to President John Mahama’s description of the three-time opposition flag bearer as a “divisive dictator”, Deputy General Secretary of the NPP Nana Obiri Boahen told Emefa Apawu on Class91.3FM’s 505 news programme on Wednesday, August 24, that: “When you hear people in government raving and ranting, it’s quite amazing. What exactly is their problem?”

Addressing supporters of the NDC in Bimbilla in the Northern Region on Tuesday August 23 as part of his campaign, Mr Mahama said: “What we need in Ghana is an understanding president. The era of dictatorship is gone: we are not looking for a dictator, somebody who cannot stand criticism in his own party. If you criticise him, he will sack you…that is not the kind of leader we are looking for. We are looking for a leader who can bring people together," he stressed in reference to the flag bearer of the main opposition party.

“...It is a very dangerous experiment. Ghana is not at the stage where we are experimenting leadership, and so you cannot come and beg that we should try you. We are not in the era of experiments and trials, we are in the era of what is sure. We have seen this government: one of the major successes of this government is peace and stability.

“We are looking for a leader who can unite Ghana and not a leader who will divide Ghana. If you cannot unite your own party, how do you unite a nation?" he questioned.

However, Mr Boahen rebuffed the accusation saying: “Nana Addo is not a dictator. They (NDC) are at liberty to make Paul Afoko (suspended chairman of the NPP) a co-chairman. Some of us are reliably informed about the way NDC is sponsoring and financing Paul Afoko… What exactly is the problem? …They are financing and sponsoring Paul Afoko.”

He said instead of the NDC making Mr Akufo-Addo its campaign message, the Mahama administration should rather concentrate on fixing the problems facing the country.

“Ghanaians are alleged to have voted for them to fix the problems confronting Ghanaians,” Mr Boahen continued.

Ghanaians did not vote for them to make Nana Addo an issue of attack; fix the economy, cedi is declining in value, businessmen are crying, unemployment is the order of the day. Fix the problems. What exactly has Nana Addo done to warrant all this unnecessary, irresponsible, unwarranted, unreasonable, uncouth, uncultured attacks?”