A Deputy National Coordinator of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN), the student’s wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is asking President Akufo-Addo to apologise to victims of the Akosombo Dam and Kpong hydro dams spillage, for his comments during his visit to the community to empathise with them and to assure them of government support.
The President had emphasised during a visit to Mepe in the Volta Region, that his visit was in line with his responsibilities and duties as President of Ghana, to show support and sympathise with his people. President Akufo-Addo explained that his visit was not political, and that were it so, he wouldn’t have been expected in the locailty because the people in the Volta Region did not vote for him.
The comment on Monday has seen varrying interpretation, with critics condemning it as divisive.
According to the TEIN Deputy National Coordinator, Karim Mumin in a press release, it was “heartless and childish” for the President to make reference to votes from the Volta Region while addressing victims of the tragedy.
He noted that “hate-speech has become characteristic of President Akufo-Addo anytime there is an issue affecting the people of Volta Region”.
He added that the President, in 2021, had failed to empathise with the people of Ketu South during a disaster created by tidal waves, rather he embarked on a trip abroad and returned only to “insult chiefs and the people for asking him to help complete an abandoned E-Block started by his predecessor John Dramani Mahama.
“In the mind of the president, he is doing the people of Volta Region a favour by responding to their needs but we want to remind him that the people of Volta Region pay taxes to run his government just as any other Ghanaian and his continuous efforts to segregate this country into NDC Ghana and NPP Ghana is most unthinkable of any president.”
The TEIN Coordiantor added that they see the President’s actions as divisive and thus could negatively impact the smooth cohesion of the country.
“We demand that President Akufo-Addo must come out immediately to apologize to the chiefs and people of Volta Region and Ghanaians as a whole. We are calling on all right-thinking Ghanaians to join this call to save this country.”
What President Akufo-Addo said (Excerpt)
“When these things happen and government acts, politics does not come into the matter at all. When I took the Oath of Office as President, I took the oath as president for every single individual in Ghana, all people in Ghana, all districts and whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath, I am the President of all the people so Togbe, I want the people here, beginning with you, and the elders to understand that when something like this happens and Government acts, Government is acting for Ghanaians, all Ghanaians.
“I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and are suffering, and it is my responsibility to try and help. Because, if it is a question of counting who votes for me and who doesn’t vote for me, then I shouldn’t be here, because you don’t vote for me. But that is not my concern. And, in any event, one day you will vote for me and my party.”
“So Togbe, I came here this afternoon to express my sympathy with all the people of Mepe and the areas affected,” he stressed.
The president faced backlash from some sections of the community while others sought to explain that the Preisdent meant no harm with his statement.
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