President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has firmly rejected accusations that he has become a lame-duck president following the nomination of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate for the 2024 election.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, had alleged that prominent figures, including Members of Parliament, were distancing themselves from the President after the party’s choice for the next election was announced.
However, during a meeting with chiefs and residents of Nima in Accra, President Akufo-Addo declared that he remains in control of the country until January 7, 2025, dismissing any claims of his diminished authority.
Addressing the gathering, President Akufo-Addo stated, “Speaker Bagbin says I am a lame duck. Well, that is his language. I am still the president of the Republic, and I will continue to be so until January 7, 2025. The power to make decisions and implement policies is firmly in my hands, and I have no intention of relinquishing it. So, I don’t understand what he means by calling me a lame-duck president. I am not a lame-duck president.”
President Akufo-Addo was responding to concerns raised by Speaker Bagbin regarding loyalty within the NPP party following the nomination of Dr. Bawumia as the presidential candidate for the upcoming election. Bagbin suggested that the President was losing support from key party figures, including Members of Parliament.
Interestingly, Mr Bagbin had rooted for Dr Bawumia during the NPP presidential primary.
The President’s strong assertion of his authority indicates his determination to continue leading the country effectively until the end of his term.
While the disagreement between President Akufo-Addo and Speaker Bagbin continues, it remains to be seen how this will impact the dynamics within the NPP and the overall political landscape in Ghana.
By Vincent Kubi