Politics of Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Source: The Republic
Alert cameras caught Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), napping during the party’s all-important event to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of Dr. J.B Danquah, the icon of the NPP.
During the commemorative lecture, a clearly tired Akufo-Addo, who was billed as the guest speaker for the event was caught napping in his chair, as even older dignitaries such as former President John Kufuor was raptly engrossed with the proceedings of the day.
Akufo-Addo’s nap took several interesting postures; in one instance, he tilted his head backwards on his chair as he snoozed away. He later shifted gears as the boredom bore down on him; this time, he tilted his head sideways in what appeared to be a more comfortable sleeping posture in such an august gathering of party big-wigs.
According to eye-witnesses, the incident caught the attention of not only the cameramen and women but also some of the dignitaries who sat close to him who couldn’t help but to gossip.
Critics have pointed out his tendency to give in to nature and his age and health situation as his major setback towards the 2016 Presidential election, though he insist he is “perfectly fit” to lunge into the vigorous electioneering campaign next year.
He has courted a sizeable number of opponents within his party whose major opposition to his Presidential bid uncertain capacity to surmount his age and alleged health issues.
Akufo-Addo’s napping picture is being compared to a similar gaffe by Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, who recently tripped and fell flat on his face on an official tour. The comical fall of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has quickly earned him thousands of internet Memes which have been used to represent several ridiculous postures.
The embarrassing spectacle has led to the sacking of several personal guards of 90-year-old Mr. Mugabe, apparently blamed for not preventing his now trending fall. But critics have blamed his advanced age for such high-profile mishaps.
In Ghana, Akufo-Addo has been compared to Robert Mugabe for his undying quest to become President despite his advanced age and an alleged health condition.
Akuffo-Addo and Robert Mugabe form a class of ageing African politicians who have increasingly come under ridicule for questing for power despite the general trend of African leadership shifting towards younger and more vibrant leaders.
Akufo-Addo, a veteran politician, has been defeated twice at the Presidential polls and has insisted on standing again as the opposition NPP’s 2016 Presidential candidate, a move that critics anticipate would be his most embarrassing in his political career if he loses again for the third time, because his advanced age will force him to abandon his long-nursed presidential ambition which has been battered several times by stronger contenders and now his age.