The founder of the United Front Party (UFP), Akwasi Addai Odike, has taken a swipe at President Akufo-Addo, accusing him of manipulating the electoral syetem in the country for his parochial interests.
He alleged that since President Akufo-Addo took over power, he has been engaging in silly acrivities that are detrimental to the electoral system of the country both in his party and the nation.
The Ghanaian politician speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM said that because the president has his personal interests and agenda, he takes steps in manipulating with the electoral system so his favourites will win in any polling activity.
“Since Akufo-Addo took over office, he has been engaging in silly activities and machinations that are influencing our electoral processes, and yet people have kept quiet and looked on. He has destroyed the NPP, and nobody has the courage to call him out. He is using intimidation to destroy the party and the country, and nobody seems to be interested in calling him out to stop.”
He stressed the need for us to review the constitution as a matter of urgency to reduce the powers of the president.
He accused him and his vice president of being interested in elections, saying that since he was elected, they have never stepped foot in Ejisu but came there to campaign because of the by-election.
“Akufo-Addo and Bawumia were in Ejisu to campaign for votes. But for the seven to eight years that Akufo-Addo was elected, he has never stepped foot in Ejisu. When coming to Kumasi, they fly in planes, and even if they use road transport, they drive in large convoys. So why are they in the constituency today? They are all there because they are fighting against one person, Aduomi. I am praying he will defeat them and be elected as the MP.
Aduomi is the people’s man. He was there for the people. And so I am praying that he will win to send a clear signal to the politicians to understand that the stronghold era is giving room for a common-sense approach in choosing leaders. The inpundence and impunity with which the President spoke was unfortunate, but it will not wash. The comments he made and the jabs he threw at the independent candidate were silly. According to him, he personally hates the process used in electing parliamentary candidates in Ghana because it breeds corruption and divisiveness.
He described as unfortunate the decision of party delegates to go for fridges, money, and other items before electing people.
“Personally, I don’t support the current approach to electing parliamentary candidates. I don’t like the kind of Parliament where political parties are sponsored. We are only interested in doing things that are in sharp contrast with our democracy. So to be honest with you, in my book of union government, Parliament will be non-partisan. Our parlaimanetraians are too partisan, and when elected, instead of using their wisdom, they follow their partisan nature and do things to favour their political parties.”
He said that since 1992 to date, our parliamentarians from the NDC and NPP have taken partisan and block decisions. That is why Speaker Alban Bagbin has complained bitterly about the situation. They abandon their wisdom behind the doors of parlaimanet and adopt their partisan character at the expense of the Ghanaian. If we do not change our ways and we continue to do that, we will destroy this country.
He said everything is pointing backwards, and this partisan democracy has helped an African country.
We don’t believe in ourselves and have adopted the Democratic system of the white, which is unique to the UK and the USA. This system of government and module of government and how they implement their policies do not align with the system we have in Africa, particularly Ghana. We will not see any development, and we are far behind.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
