The largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has jumped to the defense of its Presidential Candidate Nana Akufo Addo insisting that he dressed properly to Ghana’s 59th Independence anniversary event.
According to the party, a discussion by members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) focused on what Nana Akufo Addo wore to the event amounts to cheapening Ghana’s political discourse.
The three-term Presidential candidate has come under a lot of flak from members of the NDC for what they describe as inappropriate dressing of Nana Akufo Addo to perhaps the most important event on the country’s calendar.
He wore a white linen shirt over black trousers to the event, but his opponents who have described his attire as disappointing were of the view that he could have dressed more formal to the occasion which was attended by the Presidents of Guinea-Bissau and Kenya, José Mário Vaz and Uhuru Muigai, and several other dignitaries including the diplomatic corps.
But speaking on Neat FM Tuesday, a Deputy Director of Communications of the NPP, Anthony Karbo stated that Akufo Addo couldn’t have gotten it wrong with his attire to the event.
He said the NDC members who have launched an attack on the NPP distinguished Presidential candidate should teach their senior officers in government fashion if they have any knowledge in fashion.
“President Mahama then as a Vice President, used to wear polo shirts to official functions, it was the NDC people who came out to say the Vice President was not dressing well, and he had to change. If the NDC have to teach anybody fashion, they should teach themselves. As far as we are concerned our Presidential candidate was properly dressed for the occasion… he was in a plain white linen shirt, and you know how linen tops are, when you sit in a chair or a car, certainly when you wake up you’ll find some parts crumpled”.
He added: “This business of talking about how inappropriate what someone has worn to a ceremony what kind of politics are we reducing this country to, in any case, it’s not even true that Nana Addo’s dressing was inappropriate, I think that Nana Addo was well represented; the entourage was neatly positioned. I don’t think we should waste too much of our time on such a petty issue. I think what worries the NDC is that Nana Akufo-Addo talked about the President’s speech, and indeed people had reservations about his speech. People think that he should have captured the moment of the country, where we are now, the difficulties we face as a nation. That is what is important”.