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A politician must generate controversy- President Akufo-Addo
Nana Akufo-Addo’s Independence day speech generated controversy, with some quarters accusing him of trying to downplay Dr. Nkrumah’s achievements and giving prominence to J.B Danquah and other members of the United Gold Coast Convention.
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However, speaking on Thursday, March 9 2017, at a dinner party, Nana Addo maintained his Independence Day celebrations speech rendered the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah the necessary acknowledgment due him.
“I made a speech to the country which I tried to speak about who how became Ghana. Everything I say has ended up to be a controversy and but that is how it should be. A politician who doesn’t generate controversy is a dull politician and that is not an interesting politics. The amusing part of this is that the people who did not live through the independence era, young people who came much after claim I distorted the history of Ghana and belittled the role of Kwame Nkrumah,” the president of Ghana stated.
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He added that his speech was justified due to the fact that it was even appreciated by the President of Zimbabwe, 93-year-old Robert Mugabe, who had keenly monitored Ghana’s development towards freedom.
“The one man who lived through the era [Robert Mugabe] was here in Ghana at the time; [he] embraced me for having enhanced the image of Kwame Nkrumah. And that tells you everything about Ghanaian politics as President Mugabe gave me a big hug.”
Akufo-Addo said the disagreement that erupted in the wake of his speech showed the country’s strong democratic credentials. He added that having differing opinions on issues within the country helped to enhance development.
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“It tells you about the nature of the controversy and how it is so important that we continue to cherish our freedom, our capacity and ability to be able to speak our mind and give our different point of view about what is going on in Ghana.” “We should cherish that and hold on to that fast because it is the best way we would develop our country. Then all the best of ideas will come forward when the different views are expressed and that will enable us to progress and progress faster,” he said.
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