Defence deal: President's decision to speak good – Ablakwa

The president’s decision to speak on the Ghana-U.S. military defence deal is a welcome news, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has said.

The deal was approved by Ghana’s parliament although the Minority staged a walkout.

Mr Ablakwa, who is also the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, had earlier expressed shock and disappointment at President Nana Akufo-Addo’s silence on the matter.

In an open letter to the president, the NDC MP questioned the rationale behind his silence on an issue that has sparked protests.

“With all due respect, Sir, we have all come to know you in the 14 months of your Presidency as the President who does not hesitate to speak. Indeed, you have often flaunted your gift of the gab both home and abroad and we all know you love it when the feedback is great…..we have seen how you have quite often ignored good counsel and chosen to comment on matters that many consider prejudicial and awkward. Just two examples will suffice for now; your lengthy intervention during the Parliamentary Probe on the Cash for Seats Scandal and the praises you heaped on Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong of Zoomlion.

“We do know that both acts attracted condemnation from anti-corruption crusaders. Mr President, as you will concede, Ghanaians watch their leaders very closely and in our often quintessential humorous fashion provide a nickname which aptly describes their leaders. A few examples: Kwame Nkrumah earned “Nkrumah Show Boy,” John Evans Atta Mills earned “Asomdwehene,” John Mahama earned “Commissioner General,” and Sir, you have fast earned “King Promise.” So with all due respect, Sir, Ghanaians know you love to talk and that even long after your successful 2016 campaign, you continue to “talk big” by making more promises. Respectfully, Mr. President, you can, therefore, understand why most of us are extremely surprised at your sudden belief in silence. Your silence on the agreement in issue is very much out of character and we are sincerely befuddled. Everybody is saying this is not the man we have known from ‘titi’”, portions of the article read.

Subsequently, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako Jnr., revealed that Mr Akufo-Addo will speak on the matter this week.

“There is this talk that the President must speak. Last week the President took a decision to speak on the matter this week. Let’s hear him and when we do, we have more to discuss,” he said on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen political talk show on Tuesday.

Commenting on this revelation on his Facebook page, Mr Ablakwa said: “Good to hear that finally President Akufo-Addo is intending to address the nation on the Ghana-U.S. Military Cooperation Agreement.”