General News of Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Source: Joy Online

Anyidoho tackles Akufo-Addo over ethnocentric comments

Director of Communications at the Presidency Koku Anyidoho has demanded of the New Patriotic Party flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo, to publicly state his position on “ethnocentric” comments allegedly made by some members of the party’s communications team.

Koku Anyidoho wants Nana Addo to distance himself from tribal comments reportedly made by persons such as former NPP Youth Organiser Anthony Abayifa Karbo, Deputy Communications Director Samuel Awuku and MP for Abuakwa South Samuel Ata Akyea, which he (Koku) claimed are targeted at Voltarians and Ewes in particular which could jeopardize the peaceful coexistence of ethnic groups in the country.

Speaking on Adom Fm on Monday, Mr. Anyidoho noted that the NPP flagbearer’s silence over “this sensitive” matter could support arguments in some quarters to that fact that, the NPP and Nana Addo may be harbouring an agenda against people with Ewe background.

The outspoken NDC firebrand wondered how for instance, Nana Akufo-Addo could ensure a united Ghana Armed Forces which he said “has taken the country a long time to build, should become elected as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anyidoho has denied being rendered redundant at the Presidency, as suggested by a newspaper publication on Monday. The story claimed Mr. Anidoho, as well as some of his colleagues appointed by late President Mills, had been sidelined by President Mahama.

“I am very much at most, Nii Lantey is very much at post, my junior colleague Okudzeto is very much at post, Chief of Staff is very much at post,” he said.

Even though he refrained from going into the details of his work as Communications Director, Mr. Anyidoho said unlike President Mills, President Mahama has decided to run his administration with a Communications Director and a have a Spokesperson at the same time, as had been the norm in most countries.

He emphasized that he “was still at post” stressing that, the work of the Communications Director “is more than just speaking” for the President.