President Nana Akufo-Addo exhibited gross bad faith when his government said there was no agreement between the new administration and the immediate past one regarding ex-president John Mahama’s request to keep his official bungalow as part of his retirement package, the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said.

A hailstorm of controversy greeted Mr Mahama’s earlier request to keep the property. He later rescinded that interest following claims by the new administration that there was no agreement to that effect even though the past administration insisted there was such an agreement.

At a press conference on Thursday, 12 January, party chair Kofi Portuphy said: “The exhibition of extreme bad faith by the administration of the NPP is nothing but a crude and ugly attempt to divert attention from the gross embarrassment Nana Akufo-Addo has brought upon himself and Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana via the shameful plagiarism that characterised his inaugural speech.

“We wish to assure Nana Akufo-Addo that no amount of bad faith he exhibits will wipe away the heaps of shame and disgrace he has brought upon himself and Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana.

“Indeed, Nana Akufo-Addo is better off apologising to the good people of Ghana for his improper conduct of intellectual dishonesty and academic fraud rather than continuing to show bad faith after a rather smooth transfer of authority to him.”

The NDC has also warned that the thuggery of members of the governing party following the investiture of Mr Akufo-Addo by way of seizing public facilities was inimical to the peace and stability of the country. “This act and many others that have come to our attention but may not have gained prominence represent a veritable threat to the stability of Ghana,” Mr Portuphy said.

“As a party that has held power for eight years, we have worked assiduously to build a very solid foundation for peace, unity, stability, growth and development. Never shall it be the desire of the NDC to destroy the solid foundation and legacy we have bequeathed to the NPP. We will continue to uphold the tenets of good governance and our democratic dispensation. Let the NPP administration and the new president do nothing to destroy the legacy we have bequeathed to them. They have made lots of promises when seeking the mandate to govern. They have that mandate now. So let them govern and fulfil their promises rather than bring mayhem and chaos upon this nation. We have always respected our security services and hope that the change of government has not changed their resolve to protect the security and sanctity of our country. … Ghana will not die.”