S.O. Ankamah writes: Wasn’t Mahama Right to have cautioned against the over Criticization of the Presidency?         

When former President, John Dramani Mahama was in office, he received lashes from all corners especially from the then opposition leader then, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.

These lashes intensified at the tail end of 2016, the electioneering year. But in all these, the seemingly embattled then President swallowed the lashes in, until he could no more bear these sharp criticisms any longer. This is because, “There is a point beyond which a man refuses to be patient!”

He then fired a Salvo to his critics warning them against over criticizing the office of the President, when they have not been there before.

Hell broke loose as his critics did not only misconstrue his position, but also intensified their criticism on all fronts. The situation became worse when he proclaimed that “He that is down, needs fear no fall!” when people further misconstrued it in the infamous “Odwan funu analogy”

The Akans have a saying, “Sɛ won nyini yɛ a, wonsre akwa tia”. To wit, “If you are not-fully grown you don’t have to laugh at the short man”.

Now with the passing of time the chicken has come home to roost and the cat has been left out of the bag. Today, it is not Mahama who has taken his turn to criticize the sitting president, Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice Dr. Bawumia, rather, the generality of Ghanaians for what they see as biting economic conditions in the country.

The Cedi-Dollar Ratio

During Mahama’s time the Cedi to the Dollar was around three and four cedis. Today in the Nana Addo-Bawumia era, the ratio is 13 cedis to one dollar.

Fuel Prices

In Mahama’s time a gallon of Petrol was sold for about 14 Ghana Cedis, then  Opposition Leader, Nana Addo promised to reduce it drastically when voted into power. Now, under his regime a gallon of Petrol sells around GH¢ 75.00. Na Wao!

Unstable Prices of Commodities and Services

It is an open secrete that in the Nana Addo – Bawumia era prices of goods and services have not only become unstable, but also unbearable and skyrocketing by the day. Yet various reasons have been assigned to these, including Russia- Ukraine War, COVID-19, and many more.

IMF Spills the Beans

Via a Joy News item recently the IMF disclosed that Ghana’s inflationary situation is self-inflicted and not externally driven. So who is telling the truth?

As at now, it’s not Ex-President Mahama doing the criticism of the Presidency, but the ordinary Ghanaian who may not be able in his life time to mount the seat of the presidency. In this regard what is the position of Nana and Bawumia on this subject matter? In fact, it is a truism that when you point your fore finger at someone, the remaining four point at you.

At this junction, I want someone to help me answer the question, “Wasn’t Mahama right in cautioning against over criticism of the Presidency by people who have not been there before?

This short piece is food for thought for all who deem it fir, and also to bear in mind that “if you are not fully grown, you don’t have to laugh at the short man!”