From friend to critic: Franklin Cudjoe lists sins of Akufo-Addo

Franklin Cudjoe, the founding president of IMANI Africa, has publicly voiced his disappointment with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, declaring that he had transitioned from being a friend and supporter to a vocal critic.

Once an admirer of Akufo-Addo's commitment to freedom, Franklin Cudjoe now holds the president accountable for what he describes as a series of governance failures.

Cudjoe reminisces about the days when President Akufo-Addo held him in high regard, even jokingly referring to him as "the most important man in Ghana" during a birthday event in 2017.

In a recent piece titled "Franklin Cudjoe’s unfiltered truth: My journey from friendship to critique with President Nana Addo," the policy analyst revealed that his friendship with Nana Addo extended to professional collaboration, where he and his team were consulted on the feasibility of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program by then-candidate Akufo-Addo.

However, the relationship has soured as he has grown increasingly disillusioned with the Akufo-Addo administration's handling of the economy, accusing the government of allowing illegal mining to ravage the country's rivers and forests, and engaging in "crookish multi-million dollar procurement scams."

He cites specific instances such as the controversial deals with GENSER and the Aker oil deal, which he claims cost Ghana nearly $30 billion.

"I am so disappointed and angry with him and spare no chance to criticize him for sitting aloof while his ministers and some CEOs of State Enterprises run the economy aground, destroy our pristine rivers and forests through illegal mining, engage in crookish multi-million dollar procurement scams (SML, PDS, KelniGVG, 5G network license Frontiers Health Covid-19 [only 25% of all funds received applied directly to covid-related interventions]."

"A few years ago, 85% of all procured contracts bypassed the GIFMIS system that could have tracked cooked scams, very generous GENSER gas deals to party financiers, and very, very poor decisions in the oil sector... losing Ghana almost $30bn in the Aker oil deal. Just look at what the CEO of the Trade Fair Centre has done to the centre, supposedly under superior management. These are just a few of your grave sins, my friend Nana Addo. I haven't even added the SALL debacle to the list," he said.

Cudjoe's critique extends to what he perceives as fiscal recklessness, leaving Ghana burdened with significant debt and cut off from international borrowing markets.

He also criticizes the President's pet project, the National Cathedral, as a "cantankerous" endeavor.

"Now Nana’s legacy is that he supervised the most fiscally reckless economy since independence, and leaves us with humongous debts to last a lifetime and succeeded in literally cutting us off from borrowing from the international markets. What irks me the most is his cantankerous Cathedral project with a hole waiting for God's possible fresh anointing. It will never happen before he leaves the office."

In a candid reflection, Cudjoe states that only true friends can confront each other with the truth, suggesting that their friendship could be restored if Akufo-Addo acknowledges his mistakes.

He concludes by expressing concern over Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's ability to navigate the economic challenges left in the wake of Akufo-Addo's presidency.

"So yes, Nana Addo was my friend, and only true friends can tell each other boldly in the face the truth. Nana, your legacy is ruined."

"We can be friends again when I read your memoir apologizing for taking us on a bumpy ride to your hell's kitchen," the IMANI boss wrote.



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