President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a leader who cannot read, according to Margaret Ansei, a member of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) communication team.
She claims that the President has demonstrated this on numerous international forums, when he has been questioned or when he has been speaking about particular subjects.
Magaret Ansei claimed that the president’s bluster has frequently made Ghanaians uncomfortable, in an interview on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
“I am saying it that, from the way this President looks and the way he talks, and the way he answers questions when he is caught unawares. The way he cannot answer questions properly, the gentleman does not read.
“The gentleman doesn’t read and he is causing us a lot of embarrassment, especially when he goes out there; our international image. Branding is very important as a country, top of the mind awareness. The President always goes to sit on international platforms, making utterances so ignorantly and you don’t want us to talk about it?”
Margaret Ansei
The NDC communicator’s remarks follow the president’s recent criticism of taking loans from the global market.
The president said that his administration had set itself up to be able to “go back to the international market, which had been a source of funding” for the nation during the first three or four years in office, while speaking at a Qatar-Africa Economic Forum in Doha. He thinks it is sense to save some savings now and take advantage of the market.
Margaret Ansei responded to this by pointing out that the economic foundations of the nation contradict what the President said.
“He has a term and by 2024, he will exit. So, if he is saying that we are going back to the international market to borrow, even if it is on December 2024, we still do not have access according to the macroeconomy, the fundamentals do not support what he is doing.”
Margaret Ansei
According to Margaret, these things ought to be spoken openly, since the President is supported by tax dollars, and if he is not carrying out his duties as expected by Ghanaians, he ought to be called out for it.
“Why? Don’t I pay him? If he’s not doing the work well, can’t I say it? I take care of President Akufo-Addo and if he is not getting the job done, why should I pamper him?”
Margaret Ansei
“Ghana Beyond Aid” Does Not Imply that Ghana Will Not Request Assistance
The President’s slogan, “Ghana Beyond Aid,” according to Lawuratu Musa-Saaka, a member of the communications team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), does not indicate that the country will not borrow; rather, it means that the country will be able to obtain these aids on its own terms.
Achieving the mantra, in her opinion, does not preclude the nation from seeking assistance; but, any such assistance will be negotiated in light of the nation’s continued economic growth.
“Ghana Beyond Aid doesn’t necessarily mean that we will not be seeking support or other resources from other places. Even if you are going to build manufacturing plants and all that, people come in as investors and they are not Ghanaians. You will need support but once you go beyond aid, you take monies on your terms, not on the terms of the person bringing you the aid.”
Lawuratu Musa-Saaka
According to Madam Lawuratu, the country of Ghana is today in a stronger position to accept or reject help and support that does not benefit it.
“I am saying that even if you go beyond aid, you have people bringing you support because they have found an opportunity in your economy or they have a programme or project for themselves that needs you in it. They are coming with their terms but when you are in a successful country, any support that is coming in comes on your terms.
“So, you can accept whatever support that is coming in or not but it will on your terms. But sometimes when you are desperate enough, you go take support and investments that don’t necessarily to the benefits of the people.”
Lawuratu Musa-Saaka
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