President Akufo-Addo Replies Alban Bagbin: "I Am Not Lame Duck"

President Akufo-Addo has rejected what he says is a claim by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, that he is a lame-duck President.

The Speaker a few weeks ago indicated in parliament that President Akufo-Addo was losing the loyalty of some key personalities in the NPP, including members of Parliament following the election of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as the presidential candidate and leader of the NPP.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Nima, a suburb in Accra on Sunday 17 December 2023 during a ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Chief of Nima, Nii Futa, President Akufo-Addo asked his audience to disregard Mr Bagbin’s assertion.

The President noted that he remains the President of the Republic till 7 January 2025. Until then, he will continue to exercise the powers of the state and make decisions aimed at securing the nation’s prosperity.

“Speaker Bagbin says I am a lame duck. Well, that is his language. I am still the president of the republic and I will continue to do so until January 7, 2025.

“I do not doubt that the power to make decisions and carry out policies is still firmly in my hands, and I am not going to let it go.

“So, I don’t know what he is talking about when he says I am a lame-duck president. I am not a lame-duck president,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.

Vote for Bawumia

In response to an observation by the chief of Nima that there are very few people from the Zongo community serving in high positions in office, President Akufo-Addo said the Zongo community and the rest of the country have been offered a fine opportunity to vote and elect the Vice President and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to become the next President.

By electing him as president, his wife, a Zongo girl (second lady Samira Bawumia) will automatically become the first lady, making her the first “Zongo girl” to serve in that high office.

From Wilberforce Asare