Director of Conflict Resolution of the National Democratic Congress, Abraham Amaliba has criticised President Akufo-Addo for confessing that he intentionally neglected the development needs of the people of Ekumfi.
President Akufo-Addo in a meeting with the family of the late President Atta Mills at the Jubilee House, indicated that he did not pay attention to the development needs of Ekumfi because the constituents voted the then NPP candidate, Francis Ato Cudjoe out of Parliament in the 2020 elections.
“Ato Cudjoe was your MP and I made him a Deputy Minister and you voted him out in the last elections and because of that, I did not pay attention to development in your area, I have to be honest with you but since you have brought it up I will pay attention to it,” the President stated.
Akufo-Addo’s ‘no vote, no dev’t’ contradicts the oath he swore as President – Mahama
Reacting to the President’s comment, Abraham Amaliba said President Akufo-Addo needs prayers and not condemnation for his comment.
“The president does not need criticisms again like we are doing. The President deserves prayers; we must pray for this president. When he did in Mepe, he was bashed. Would a normal human being having being bashed that way repeat what he had said again?” Mr. Amaliba said in an interview on New Day, Friday, January 19.
“This President is incurable when it comes to running his mouth,” he added.
According to Abraham Amaliba, the President breached his oath of office for passing such a comment to the people of Ekumfi.
“Would the people of Ekumfi say he has done right to them. Has he not breached his oath? The directive principle of state policy stipulates that the President must ensure even and balanced development, has he not breached this one too?”
However, a New Patriotic Party Communicator, Eric Amoah Twum explained that the President’s comment is being “taken out of context”.
He stressed that “the mood of the President and his demeanour does not show an individual that is not concerned about the development of Ekumfi for political purposes because he is actually sitting round the table and having a conversation with them.”
He said the President’s comment is not to “negatively punish the people of Ekumfi because Ato Cudjoe was not voted for. I feel that sometimes there is too much reliance on the propaganda effect.”
Eric Amokao Twum spoke on TV3’s New Day on Friday, January 19.