Professor Ransford Gyampo, the newly appointed CEO of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), has responded to claims by NPP communicator Dennis Miracles Aboagye, who argued that his acceptance of the political appointment signals his alignment with the NDC.
The outspoken academic and political analyst did not hold back in his response, describing such claims as baseless and a reflection of shallow political thinking.
The controversy erupted after Aboagye insinuated that by accepting an appointment from President Mahama, Gyampo had effectively declared his political allegiance to the NDC.
In a sharp rebuttal, Gyampo dismissed this reasoning, questioning whether he would have been considered an NPP member if he had instead accepted a role from President Akufo-Addo.
“I least expected Dennis [Aboagye] to peddle this ignorance. Would I have been NPP if I had accepted an appointment by Nana Addo? So is Prof. Kwesi Prempeh too NDC?” Gyampo retorted, pointing out that political appointments should not automatically define an individual’s party affiliation.
The GSA CEO further went on to criticize the political culture in Ghana, which he believes limits governance to party loyalty rather than competence.
He questioned why political leaders fail to recognize the importance of assembling the best minds for national development instead of filling key positions with only party members.
“Can’t we ever have sensible leaders who, in appreciating the enormity of the task of development, endeavor to assemble national brains to work? Is it not a show of littleness of mind to argue that a government formed must appoint only people who belong to its party to help govern?”
Professor Ransford Gyampo
He further took a swipe at the erstwhile NPP government’s approach to political appointments, suggesting that Akufo-Addo’s administration had set a poor standard by prioritizing loyalty over competence. “Must we use Akufo-Addo’s very low standard of appointing only party foot soldiers that he can control as the yardstick for anything?”
Communication and Political Identity
Prof. Ransford Gyampo also refuted Aboagye’s claim that his frequent communication with former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was proof of his affiliation with the NPP.
He dismissed this argument as simplistic, asserting that personal interactions should not be misconstrued as political allegiance.
Maintaining that he has the freedom to communicate with anyone, including political figures from different parties, he questioned the logic behind equating mere communication with party loyalty.
He emphasized his independent stance by recalling his previous criticisms of both major political parties. “If I were NPP, why did I take you guys on, and if I were NDC, why did I play a key role in pushing John Mahama out of power in 2016?” he questioned.
Gyampo did not stop at defending himself but also took the opportunity to remind Aboagye of his role in the NPP’s recent electoral struggles.
“I thought after your long push into oblivion following your arrogance in public communications, which served as one of the disingenuous roles you played in pushing your party into opposition, you would come back more sober and better refined in helping to warm yourself into the heart of Ghanaians. But it appears you haven’t learned.”
Professor Ransford Gyampo
Gyampo noted that his original intention was to step away from political debates and concentrate fully on his new responsibilities at the Ghana Shippers Authority.
However, he suggested that Aboagye’s remarks had compelled him to rethink this decision.
He acknowledged that several respected figures within the NPP had advised him to focus on his mandate—safeguarding the interests of shippers, lowering the cost of doing business, and strengthening international trade—while allowing the party time to recover from its electoral setback.
Gyampo Vows to Keep Speaking Out
While indicating that he was almost ready to yield to calls to step back from political discussions, Prof. Gyampo made it clear that he has now changed his mind.
He stated that he has the ability to multitask and will continue to critique the NPP while fulfilling his responsibilities at the GSA.
“You and your party must show stamina as I go on this tangent. I have the stamina to withstand you and your party, so you too, talk about me to Ghanaians and let’s see who gets listened to.”
Professor Ransford Gyampo
Accordingly, Gyampo asserted that those who dismissed his influence in shaping political discussions had miscalculated.
He noted that when he and like-minded individuals committed themselves to ensuring the NPP was removed from power due to what they saw as incompetence, certain members of the party—despite their academic credentials—failed to heed the warning signs.
With this statement, Gyampo made it clear that he has no intention of retreating from the political arena.
His words signaled a continued willingness to speak out on governance issues, reinforcing his stance as a vocal and unyielding critic.
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