'Empty boast!' - Bagbin blasts Akufo-Addo over 'I can't hand over to someone I defeated twice' comment

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of inciting violence with his comments about handing power to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and not John Dramani Mahama.

In an interview with TV3, Alban Bagbin described the comments as reckless and unacceptable, emphasizing that such statements from a president are particularly concerning, with few months to the elections.

“That is inciting people to violence. That ‘even if we lost the election we will not hand over, we will do all we can to hold on to power,’ that is unacceptable,” he said.

According to Bagbin, the power that Akufo-Addo wields is borrowed and granted by Ghanaians, who also have the ability to take it away.

Bagbin characterized Akufo-Addo’s statement as empty boasting, explaining that his decision-making authority and his tenure ends on January 6, 2025, making him neither eligible nor qualified to transfer power to his vice president.

“I was really shocked to hear that, because His Excellency the president knows that the power he is wielding is not his. It's for the people, particularly the voters and the people voted and gave him that power.

“Once they vote you out, and he is even ending his 8 years period on the 6th of January, 2025, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has no such power. He knows he has no such power so it's just an empty boast,” Bagbin stressed.

Alban Bagbin’s criticism follows Akufo-Addo’s comment in May 2024, where he addressed first-time Ghanaian voters, urging them to register and vote during the 2024 Limited Voters' Registration Exercise.

“The registration has started; I urge all persons yet to register to do so, your vote is your power.

“I can't hand over to someone I defeated twice and who is not happy with everything I do; he will destroy the work that I have done,” Akufo-Addo said while addressing supporters at a mini rally at Dobro in the Greater Accra Region.

He added, “Vote for Dr Bawumia; I have worked with him for the past seven and a half years, I have confidence in him, I know he can continue the good work.”

Additionally, Akufo-Addo made a similar statement in April 2024.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Wa, the president affirmed his commitment to ensuring peace ahead of the December polls, while also hinting at his succession plans.

He, however, indicated that his successor would not be his predecessor, John Mahama, whom he had 'removed' from office.

President Akufo-Addo added that he would return to the area with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's flagbearer, as his successor.

"Before the election is held, I am going to come here and pay my proper goodbye to you and thank you for the cooperation that I received from you when I was president.

"God willing, when I come, I will come with the man who is going to be my successor. Wa Naa, you know that the man I removed from the seat, I cannot have him as my successor and as a traditional ruler, you understand what I am saying," the president said.

Watch video of Alban Bagbin calling out President Nana Akufo-Addo below:

The speaker of parliament, Alban Bagbin, has chided President Akufo Addo over what he described as a reckless comment to hand over power to the NPP flagbearer and vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.#TV3NewDay pic.twitter.com/HmQi5PfW8B

— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 10, 2024