The National Democratic Chairman(NDC) for the Nhyiaeso Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Ernest Afayam is urging President Akufo-Addo to channel his rebuke of a chief’s refusal to stand while the national anthem was being sung to fix the struggling Ghanaian economy.
The Chief of Mempeasem, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw VI, was at the receiving end of harsh reactions from the President after failing to stand for the National Anthem during the Green Ghana Day.
In a viral video from the 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Day Celebration, which was organized at the University of Ghana, the President is seen angrily directing the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to tell the chief to stand up and observe the National Anthem each time it is played.
The chief has since apologized for his actions, saying he was unwell and had taken some medications.
However, reacting to the president’s reactions, the NDC executive believes if the president had channeled a scintillator of his anger to his failing appointees, this would have been better.
“Nana Addo’s reaction was unpresidential, he handled the situation poorly. Yes, indeed he had a right to alert the chief and in a respectful manner draw his attention through other aides but ordering the Greater Accra Regional Minister around in that manner was not right”
“I dare say, he wouldn’t have reacted the same way if it was the Okyenene, he has an attitude towards certain chiefs. Do you remember his reaction to the Volta Chief, the President must be told his reactions are sometimes overboard”.
“You remember his naysayer comments to people who criticize him constructively, then if we don’t criticize him constructively the worse can happen,” Afayam said.