SONA2017: Akufo-Addo failed bitterly – Oko Vanderpuije

Former Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije has described President Akufo-Addo's maiden State of the Nation Address as a 'failed attempt' saying the address was couched as one meant for a political campaign.

According to the Mayor turned legislator, it was wrong for President Akufo-Addo to score former President John Mahama zero per cent for his achievements. He said though President Akufo-Addo made a good attempt in presenting the State of the Nation Address, the content of his speech was same as his campaign messages

"He should have known that this is not a political campaign. He is the president of the country who took over from a previous administration," he said.

He added, "... I think for him to come and run the previous administration down 100 per cent giving the impression that everything that administration did was wrong and did not benefit this country, I think for that he failed bitterly".

Mr. Vanderpuije said Mahama and the NDC deserve some credit because they have paved the way for accelerated development by the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

"If the president today says he's going to do one-village, one-dam, it is somebody who extended electricity to that village. It is somebody who constructed the road to that village and these are initial economic factors you'll depend on to implement your policies," he emphasised.

He further explained that the planned free Senior High School (SHS) programme by the Akufo-Addo-led government will only be feasible because Mahama has provided the necessary school facilities.

"Give credit where credit is due... That's where I am disappointed and because he didn't do that he has failed this nation," he noted.