Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has taken a swipe at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his perceived poor performance in the Ashanti Region, a stronghold of his own ruling New Patriotic Party.

According to Mustapha, Akufo-Addo is president because of the Ashanti Region, but he has not delivered substantive projects to show for it.

He contrasted this with the development of the Ashanti Region under former President John Dramani Mahama, insisting that even though Akufo-Addo rode on the back of Ashanti votes to become president, Mahama developed the region more than he did.

In an interview with Kojo Marfo on Abusua Nkommo, Mustapha contended that President Akufo-Addo’s highest investment in the Ashanti Region is the empowerment of Chairman Wontumi, which has enabled him to act with impunity in the region.

“The only person in the Ashanti Region who can boast of being a beneficiary of Akufo-Addo’s 7 years in office is Chairman Wontumi,” he stated.

Mustapha expressed his disappointment with President Akufo-Addo, stating that he would disown him if he were his father.

“If President Akufo-Addo were my father, I would tell him I am disappointed in him. He has not lived like an 80-year-old man. Old age comes with blessings, but President Akufo-Addo has abandoned the blessings and is moving with the old age,” he opined.

He also criticized Akufo-Addo’s behavior, saying that it is insensitive to celebrate one’s 80th birthday at the funeral of a deceased Deputy Minister.