Akufo Addo’s comment on minority walkout insinuates a one party state – Prof. Gyampo

A Political Science professor, at the political science department of the University of Ghana, Ransford Yaw Gyampo has said that the president’s final statement on the minority walkout depicts one who wish for a one-party state.

In his submission on Beresosem, hosted by Dr. Otchere Addai Mensah on Pure 95.7 FM on Saturday, February 22, Prof. Gyampo stated that the President’s comment was unnecessary.

“I’m thinking that at that particular moment it wasn’t necessary to pass that comment. when we vote for you as president and it’s time to address the nation, you do so as a father of the nation not a matter of NDC, NPP. So as much as possible conciliatory gestures must be exhibited. In the president’s after thought remarks, he stated that he wished the NPP occupied all the seats. I think that wasn’t conciliatory enough. In a way, you’ll be insinuating a future creation of a one-party state. Something that our institutions frown on”.

He added that ” well its not far fetch but I’m thinking that at that particular moment it wasn’t needed. In politics and in partisan electioneering contestation and campaign, there are certain people you don’t necessarily always have to appeal to. what he did by that statement appeal to his support base, which in my view is unnecessary”, he fumed.

“If I were him, I would calm nerves of the minority rather than sounding all is well; because this isn’t the first time a minority in parliament is staging a walkout. If he had been a bit decorum in his after thought statement, he would have appealed to a certain constituency in the voting public. Again that would’ve sent a word of calm to the people. The floating voters will say look this is a man we can trust”, he stressed.

Sounding worried, Prof. Gyampo appealed to the legislatures to avoid future boycott in order to move the nation forward.

“I don’t support the boycott. it’s worrying [But] In all these I think we need to move forward as a nation and not to do anything that will deter it", he added.