Akufo-Addo was petty and pedestrian at his media encounter - NDC MP

Member of Parliament for Bia East Mr Eric Acheampong, has suggested that President Nana Akufo-Addo was petty and pedestrian in the responses that came following questions asked about claims by the Minority on the drones and the Oslo chancery at his media encounter on Wednesday.

The expose by the Minority he noted has helped Ghanaians to have information on the matter and it was captured in the 2019 budget.

"It was captured in the budget and government stated explicitly that it had plans of purchasing the facility at a cost of $12 million. Those who want to verify can make reference to the 2019 budget (page 419).

He was disappointed in President Akufo-Addo for shooting down the allegation and wondered why he rejected the call on him to probe the matter after his minister accepted the claims by the Minority.

‘He said:’ the president has failed to show interest in the fight against corruption. There is no single corrupt deal he has shown interest in fighting. He is always clearing his appointees. Ghanaians especially voters are watching and will draw their own conclusions.’’

He went ahead to lambast the president for preventing the 70 journalists that filed to ask questions and only limiting the number of journalists that asked questions to 15.

He quizzed the kind of media encounter, which allows journalists to fill a form indicating where they want to direct their questions.

The president he said was not on top of issues; he was not properly briefed and messed up at the media encounter. He was not focused and could not even remember issues or provide appropriate responses to questions asked,’ he added.

‘’The media encounter was below expectation. The president was petty and pedestrian. The president has no control of the economy. He is not in control,’’ the legislator said.

On the general performance he said, ‘’the president performed poorly… Nobody forced him to hold a media encounter. You planned to meet the press and so you should have come prepared but he came unprepared. I will conclude by saying that the president is not ready to fight corruption. He is surrounded by a corrupt system and not ready to fight it.’’