Samuel Atta Akyea, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region has clarified his controversial comment that sparked outrage from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Lawyer Atta Akyea on Citi FM explained that he was highlighting Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s credentials, not referring to John Mahama as a drunkard.
“I wanted to say that when we are having a crisis as a nation, and it is economical in nature, then God has helped us [because] we have a Moses who is an expert in economics,” Atta Akyea said.
“So Ghana is going to have for the first time an economist as a president to solve the economic problems that we are complaining about.”
Atta Akyea, who made the previous comments when speaking at a campaign rally at Akyem-Asafo in his constituency during a visit by the NPP Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, emphasized that he was praising Bawumia’s discipline and expertise, saying, “He is not only an economist. He is a very decent man…I also respect his discipline; he is not only an economist, but he doesn’t drink alcohol. This is all that I said.”
This clarification comes after the Opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC demanded an apology from Atta Akyea for his alleged comment, which they described as “a descending into the gutter” and “a sign of desperation” from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
However, Samuel Atta Akyea’s explanation has sparked a new wave of debate, with some questioning his initial comment and others praising his clarification.
-BY Daniel Bampoe