The Volta caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has expressed their disappointment and disapproval of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s recent comments during his visit to the flood victims in North Tongu constituency. The president’s remarks were deemed condescending, lacking leadership at a time of disaster, and did not inspire hope or empathy towards the people affected by the floods.
They noted that similar unguarded comments made by Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP have also caused concern for the Volta Caucus. The chairman ignorantly stated that flood victims should not expect any intervention from the NPP government because of their voting pattern.
In response to these statements, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, chairman of the caucus, issued a statement condemning such actions. He noted that it was irresponsible and wicked for President Akufo-Addo to use a congregation of flood victims as an opportunity for low-level politics instead of using soothing words on this occasion.
According to Mr. Bedzra, the caucus expected more from President Akufo-Addo; they would have liked him to encourage victims and assure them that the nation is ready to stand with them during this difficult time.
They further hoped he would boldly announce specific interventions quantifiable enough to ameliorate people’s grief and despair rather than engage in irresponsible politics bereft of tact and wisdom.
Read the full statement below:
PRESS RELEASE ON THE DISPARAGING COMMENTS BY PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO AT MEFE WHEN HE VISITED FLOOD VICTIMS BY VOLTA MPS CAUCUS
The Volta MPs caucus is saddened by comments made by President Akufo Addo to flood victims at Mefe in the North Tongu Constituency of the Volta Region on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Our constituents across the region have called to express their outrage and disappointment at the condescending utterances of Mr. Akufo Addo, who showed no leadership at a time of disaster. We also note with deep concern similar unguarded comments by the Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party, who ignorantly stated that the flood victims should not expect any intervention from the NPP government because of their voting pattern.
We, the representatives of the people from the Volta region, are of the view that the president’s visit to the affected area should have inspired hope and also demonstrated empathy towards the people. On the contrary, however, it has worsened the people’s plight and dashed their hopes.
For the president of our republic to choose no other platform to poke those who did not vote for him in the eye but use a congregation of flood victims to do the low-level politics is not only irresponsible but wicked. One would have thought that President Akuffo Addo would have used soothing words on this occasion. We would have expected the president to encourage the victims and assure them of the nation’s readiness to stand by them at this difficult time. We would have expected the president to boldly announce specific interventions that are quantifiable and that would go a long way toward ameliorating the people’s grief and despair. As is characteristic of the president, however, he elected to use this forum to engage in irresponsible politics bereft of tact and wisdom.
Recently, the Vice President H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was also in the Keta campaigning at a time when people were experiencing similar destruction of homes, businesses, and properties by tidal waves. In a subtle snub, the Vice President did not visit the victims or make any public comment to show concern about the people’s predicament. Was it the case that the president instructed his vice president not to show any concern because of this mentality that the people of the Volta region do not vote for him?
Mr. President, should the quantum of votes a president gets from different parts of the country be weaponized to this low level? Should you be singing this kind of discriminatory song in the twilight of your tenure as president of this wonderful republic? We condemn these unsavoury and ethnocentric comments by Mr. Akufo-Addo and urge all well-meaning Ghanaians as well as sound minds in the NPP to rise to the occasion and reign as president.
Signed
Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah (MP)
Chairman, Volta MPs Caucus
