A Plus Questions Akufo-Addo’s ‘No Official Vehicle Purchase’ Directive

   Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, the Member of Parliament-elect for Gomoa Central, has raised concerns about President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s commitment to ensuring that his appointees comply with his directive to hand over official vehicles to the state. In a statement issued on December 11, 2024, President Akufo-Addo reminded all his appointees that they had no right to keep the official vehicles assigned to them. The appointees have been given until January 3, 2024, to return these vehicles to the chief director of the ministries and agencies they represent.

However, speaking in an interview with Accra-based Asempa FM, A Plus expressed skepticism about whether the president would follow through with his directive. He questioned whether Akufo-Addo could be trusted to ensure that his appointees would actually adhere to the order. A Plus’s lack of trust in the president stems from his disappointment over Akufo-Addo’s failed campaign against illegal mining, known as Galamsey. Despite Akufo-Addo’s public promises to tackle the issue and even putting his presidency on the line, A Plus believes the effort was unsuccessful and that the president did not follow through on his commitments.

“I don’t trust Akufo-Addo, and I’m not sure he will ensure that his people comply with this directive. A president who lied about the Galamsey fight can never be trusted,” A Plus said during the interview. He further emphasized that he believes the directive may only apply to those appointees who are not closely connected to the president. A Plus suggested that the directive could be a way to ensure that those with closer ties to Akufo-Addo are allowed to keep their vehicles, while those on the periphery are made to return them. According to A Plus, this could be an attempt to redistribute the vehicles among Akufo-Addo’s inner circle.

A Plus’s remarks reflect a growing sense of disillusionment with the president’s leadership, especially regarding his administration’s promises and commitments. A Plus has been a vocal critic of the president in the past, and this latest comment underscores his continuing dissatisfaction with the way Akufo-Addo has handled key issues such as Galamsey, as well as his trust in the president’s ability to enforce such directives.

The directive to return official vehicles comes at a time when President Akufo-Addo is nearing the end of his eight-year tenure. His presidency, which began in January 2017, is set to conclude on January 7, 2024, and a transition committee has already been established to ensure a smooth transfer of power between the current government and the incoming one. As the country approaches the end of Akufo-Addo’s administration, concerns over his legacy and the effectiveness of his policies remain in focus.

Despite the positive steps that have been taken by the government in certain areas, including the fight against corruption and infrastructure development, the Galamsey issue has been a major point of contention. Many critics, including A Plus, argue that Akufo-Addo’s government failed to take meaningful action against illegal mining, which has caused environmental destruction and undermined the country’s resources. A Plus’s criticism is rooted in the belief that the president did not act decisively enough or follow through with his promises, leading to a loss of trust among some of his supporters.

A Plus’s questioning of the president’s integrity over the vehicle directive is part of a broader sentiment of frustration with the government’s handling of certain issues. The ongoing unrest over the management of state resources, as well as the challenges surrounding corruption and accountability, continue to shape the political landscape in Ghana as the country prepares for the transition to a new administration.

As the date for President Akufo-Addo’s departure from office draws closer, Ghanaians remain divided over his legacy. While some laud his achievements in education and infrastructure development, others, like A Plus, feel that the president has failed in critical areas, such as the fight against illegal mining. This divergence in opinion highlights the challenges facing the country as it looks ahead to the next phase of its leadership.

A Plus’s remarks about the president’s vehicle directive underscore his continued dissatisfaction with the current administration’s performance. With only a few weeks remaining in President Akufo-Addo’s term, the political climate in Ghana is one of both anticipation and reflection, as citizens and political figures alike evaluate the impact of the outgoing administration.