MMDCEs, NADMO officials and several other appointees of Akufo-Addo had no qualification - PPP

Divine Nkrumah, Director of Operations for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), has stated that one of former President Akufo-Addo’s major shortcomings was appointing unqualified individuals to serve as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and in other key positions.

He claimed that the majority of these appointees lacked the necessary experience and qualifications to hold such positions.

“Many of the DCEs were appointed without the requisite qualifications. In fact, many of them only began pursuing their first degrees after being appointed. Under Akufo-Addo, appointments to positions in the National Disaster Management Organisation and other agencies were made without regard to the qualifications required for those roles,” Nkrumah stated.

He urged President John Dramani Mahama to avoid making similar mistakes.

According to Nkrumah, the former president not only made such questionable appointments but also politicized independent institutions.

The young politician also suggested that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the last election was a result of divine intervention, attributing it to widespread corruption and the misappropriation of state funds during their administration.

He alleged that Akufo-Addo politicized key institutions, including the Electoral Commission and the Judiciary, and appointed family members, children, and close associates to strategic political positions.

“They accused President John Dramani Mahama of appointing family and friends in his government. However, upon investigation, it was found that Mahama’s direct family members serving in his administration were fewer than two. In contrast, under Akufo-Addo, more than 120 family members and associates—including those of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia—held key positions. When Ghanaians raised concerns, the government defended these appointments by saying their parents had invested in their education, so they deserved the roles,” Nkrumah explained.

He went on to accuse the previous administration of attempting to privatize the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) through the Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal, which he described as a blatant effort to appropriate state assets.

Nkrumah advised the current Mahama-led administration to document what he called the “sins” of Akufo-Addo’s government in a textbook to serve as a reminder for future generations about the misdeeds of that era.

He declared, “The defeat of the NPP was Ghana’s second independence. Under their administration, we endured immense hardships. Free speech was suppressed, and people were too afraid to speak out against the government. Men metaphorically became women under the NPP because of fear.”

Nkrumah described Akufo-Addo’s presidency as a mistake that should never be repeated.

“Mahama was vilified and labeled incompetent, but Akufo-Addo’s era was far worse. His leadership pushed the country back 20 years. We must learn from this and ensure we never elect such a leader again,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Watch as religious leaders pray for Mahama and his family’s well being