Call For Mills To Meet Nana Addo Unnecessary – Alex Segbefia

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia has dismissed as irrelevant the call by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for President Mills to invite NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo for discussions about issues of national interest.

The Communications Director of NPP, Nana Akomea, on Wednesday called on President Mills to take up the challenge of the NPP flagbearer and engage him on critical matters of national concern, including the safety and security of his party members.

The call by the Okaikoi South MP came a day after former President Kufuor honoured an invitation to the Castle to dialogue with President Mills on several issues. Nana Akomea said President Mills should do more to show that he is sincere about fostering unity and addressing the concerns of the NPP.

Reacting to the call by NPP on the Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, February 24, Mr Segbefia noted that there is no basis for President Mills to invite Nana Addo for a discussion. He accused the NPP of deliberately employing diversionary tactics intended to distract the NDC from delivering on its manifesto. Mr Segbefia added that there has never been an instance in the history of Ghana where an incumbent President has met with opposition flagbearers half way through his term to discuss matters of national concern.

Mr Segbefia said the furore and the current political instability in the country was as a result of the “all die be die” comments made by the flagbearer of the NPP. According to Alex Segbefia, President Mills can only meet with Nana Addo for discussions when the nation is gearing up for general elections, hence any call for a meeting now is pre-mature.

“Is he (Nana Akomea) asking for a one-on-one meeting or all presidential candidates meeting with the president? If that (a meeting with flagbearers) is the case then I would say that it is pre-mature and I do not know why there has to be a need for a call especially when it appears the basis upon which he (Nana Akomea) is asking for the call was one that was created by his Presidential candidate…so I am a bit concerned about the basis upon which the call is being made”.

“There has never been a situation in this country where the President has invited political leaders to come and discuss half way through his term, when his main focus is to make sure that he delivers on his manifesto agenda as opposed to thinking about elections. I think this is a diversionary tactic because it is just to get us to move away from what we are supposed to do.”