Ghana’s democratic journey has always been defined by respect for institutions, inclusivity, and the honoring of past leaders. Yet under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, many citizens and observers argue that these values have been eroded by arrogance, exclusion, and insensitivity.
A Leadership Style Marked by Arrogance
Critics describe Akufo-Addo’s leadership as “Napoleonic—conceited, short-fused, and dismissive.” His governance style, they argue, has fostered division rather than unity. Instead of embodying humility and service, he is often portrayed as wielding power with a sense of entitlement.
Disrespect Toward Former Presidents
The treatment of Ghana’s former leaders has been a flashpoint. Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving head of state, was reportedly denied VVIP access and stripped of certain presidential privileges. Similarly, John Dramani Mahama has faced restrictions under Akufo-Addo’s watch.
Such actions raise troubling questions: Does Ghana still honor its tradition of respecting past presidents, or has political rivalry overridden statesmanship?
The Democratic Deficit of SALL
Perhaps the most glaring example of exclusion is the denial of parliamentary representation to the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe (SALL). Despite constitutional guarantees, these communities were left voiceless in Parliament.
This is not merely an administrative oversight—it is a democratic injustice. Advocacy groups have rightly called it “a scar on Ghana’s democracy.”
Insensitivity Toward Regional Communities
Following the Akosombo Dam spillage, Akufo-Addo’s reported derogatory remarks about Voltarians deepened perceptions of ethnic bias. At a time when communities were suffering displacement and loss, such insensitivity struck many as callous.
As one civic leader put it: “Leadership is tested not in comfort, but in compassion. Akufo-Addo failed that test.”
Advocacy for Justice and Inclusion
These patterns of exclusion and arrogance feed into a broader narrative of elite impunity. Ghana cannot afford leaders who treat constitutional rights as optional or who dismiss the dignity of citizens based on political or ethnic lines.
Civil society must respond with vigilance. Advocacy campaigns must remind Ghanaians that democracy is not a gift from leaders—it is a right of the people. As the proverb says: “The axe forgets, but the tree remembers.” Citizens remember, and they demand accountability.
President Akufo-Addo’s legacy will be judged not by rhetoric, but by the lived experiences of those denied representation, dignity, and respect. Ghana deserves leadership that unites rather than divides, honors rather than belittles, and protects rather than excludes.
The call to action is clear: restore representation, respect diversity, and rebuild trust in our democracy.
Retired Senior Citizen
Teshie-Nungua
[email protected]