Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his comment that "only an NPP MP can convince me to bring development to Ejisu" during the Ejisu parliamentary by-election.

According to the journalist, Akufo-Addo's remarks in Ejisu and past comments to some chiefs from Elmina and Volta flood victims only confirm the belief that the president is a New Patriotic Party president and not the leader of the whole of Ghana.

Pratt Jnr, speaking on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana programme, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, said that he was shocked and terrified when Akufo-Addo made the statement because it means that the president has indeed been bringing development to only those he thinks voted for him.

"We have a president who doesn't see himself as the president of Ghana. He sees himself as president only for the NPP, and it is frightening.

"But it doesn't end there; he says, 'If your area is underdeveloped, you don't have roads, and so on, and you want action to be taken, you have to realize that action can only be taken if you have an NPP member of Parliament who comes to speak to an NPP president.' Wow!'

Pratt Jnr, the managing editor of the Insight Newspaper, added, "I think this is the greatest devaluation of the presidency. And I'm really shocked and surprised that this statement came from the mouth of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who has been in the political game long enough to realize how damaging this statement can be to himself and to the New Patriotic Party."

He also stated that the president's comments show that Ghana is in serious trouble because the country's leaders came to serve only the people who voted for them.

"... I'm indeed horrified. If this is where we have come to, then this country has a huge problem to deal with - where presidents no longer see themselves as presidents of the Republic but as presidents of political parties. It is clearly unpardonable."

What President Akufo-Addo said:

Akufo-Addo said that until he leaves power, no independent candidate can influence any form of development in the constituencies.

According to him, until January 7, 2025, when he leaves power, he has the final say in the country and its developmental projects.

The president made this comment after former MP Kwabena Owusu Aduomi decided to quit the NPP and run as an independent candidate in the by-election in Ejisu.

"From today to January 7, 2025, the NPP government is in power under the leadership of Akufo-Addo. If you're looking for someone who can convince the NPP president, then we need an NPP member and not an independent member whom we don't know. It won't happen.

"I came here to plead with you to help me. You can see what is happening in Parliament now. We need a majority, even if it's one vote, to help us compete in Parliament, and that one vote is Kwabena Boateng.

"I know that Members of Parliament for Ejisu are mostly Ministers, and even though there is a shorter time, I will see what I can do about it if you vote for him," he told a cheering crowd in Ejisu.

BAI/SEA

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