Former Attorney General and Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has criticized the ongoing political rivalry between Ghana’s two major parties, the NPP and NDC, accusing them of a “crabs in a basket” mentality.
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In an open letter reacting to President John Dramani Mahama’s seventh State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 27, 2025, Amidu expressed concern over how successive governments have failed to build on past achievements for the national interest.
Amidu highlighted the ongoing trend where opposing parties use the State of the Nation Address to discredit one another instead of working toward national unity.
He warned that the upcoming policy and budget statement, set for presentation on March 11, 2025, is likely to escalate political tensions and hinder cooperation for collective national development.
Recalling similar events in 2009 and 2017, Amidu accused both the NPP and NDC of prioritizing their political survival over the country’s welfare. He noted that neither party truly wants the other to succeed, as it would hinder their own chances of benefiting from the public purse.
Amidu called for a change in Ghana’s political culture and urged leaders to follow the example of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, who, during his 2009 SONA, emphasized the importance of continuity in governance where necessary.
He stressed the need to move away from the “crabs in a basket” mentality, advocating for a national approach that adds to what works and only changes direction when it serves the national interest.
