Mahama's 'divisive Akufo-Addo' comment 'crucial' – Kwesi Amakye

President John Mahama’s concern about Nana Akufo-Addo’s “divisive” nature and his inability to unite the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is a pertinent issue worth looking at, Mr Kwesi Amakye, a political science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has said.

“One crucial trait that really is desirable especially in developing countries has got to do with the ability to unify the people to build a nation … and President Mahama is looking at this issue in the context of the NPP … so if he is accusing Nana Addo as not being a unifier, this is the issue he is looking at.

“How has he [Nana Akufo-Addo] been able to build the NPP into one family? And is it a question worth asking at this material moment in time? It is an excellent question because African countries are multi-ethnic societies and from independence to date, in fact, the great Kwame Nkrumah failed in unifying Ghanaians. The British were accused of using politics of divide and rule. After independence … apart from our various ethnic groups and our ethnic identities, Ghana as a nation has not been built and this is a major challenge, so if someone is pointing to issues relating to this, I think Ghanaians should begin to clap because our politics is beginning to revolve around crucial issues and if you ask me, yes it is a desirable question to ask, a desirable issue to raise and I think Ghanaians should be interested in that and not look at it in one direction,” Mr Amakye told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FM’s Inside Politics on Wednesday, 24 August.

Mr Amakye was speaking in relation to Mr Mahama’s urge to Ghanaians to vote for a leader who can unite Ghanaians rather than one like Mr Akufo-Addo, who he described as a divisive character.

While addressing supporters of the NDC in Bimbilla in the Northern Region on Tuesday, 23 August as part of his campaign, Mr Mahama said: “What we need in Ghana is an understanding president. The era of dictatorship is gone: we are not looking for a dictator, somebody who cannot stand criticism in his own party. If you criticise him, he will sack you…that is not the kind of leader we are looking for. We are looking for a leader who can bring people together.

“...It is a very dangerous experiment. Ghana is not at the stage where we are experimenting leadership, and so you cannot come and beg that we should try you. We are not in the era of experiments and trials; we are in the era of what is sure. We have seen this government; one of the major successes of this government is peace and stability.

“We are looking for a leader who can unite Ghana and not a leader who will divide Ghana. If you cannot unite your own party, how do you unite a nation?"

Mr Amakye said Mr Mahama’s concern is relevant because “all those who are coming, can we place the destiny of this country in their hands for four whole years … so I think President Mahama is raising a very crucial question, a very significant one.”