According to Merriam-Webster, a ‘lame duck’ is someone or an outgoing politician, who is weak or falls behind in terms of ability to act effectively or an elected official holding a political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of a successor.

President Akufo-Addo perfectly fits the definition of a lame duck who has already checked out in terms of executing his presidential powers effectively.

The time Akufo-Addo could have made a significant contribution to the improvement of lives of Ghanaians has elapsed 4 years ago. His dwindled fortunes in terms of Parliamentary seat after the 2020 general elections showed that Ghanaians were so unhappy with his unsatisfactory governance style, lack of jobs and sustainable development. The situation has not changed at the beginning of his second term in 2021 till now.

Instead of improving, it is commonplace Akufo-Addo’s regime experienced a downturn of the national economy, corruption menace, national debt, poor infrastructural development and generally bad living conditions of Ghanaians.

This Akufo-Ado-led government has shamefully worsened the traditional galamsey phenomenon and it has now become ‘high-tech galamsey’ (HTG) business, which is an existential threat to Ghanaians and beyond.

Apart from the apparent poor performance of President Akufo-Addo so far, the appointment of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on November 4, 2023, further shifted the loyalty equation in the NPP fraternity. I perfectly agree with the Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin that Akufo-Addo became a lame duck when Bawumia was selected the Flagbearer of the NPP on November 4, 2023.

Yes, former appointees as well as current appointees of sitting President are no more loyal to him, but rather gravitating toward the NPP’s Flagbearer for obvious reasons. This has further aggravated the lame duck situation the President has found himself in right now.

Per the records of this Akufo-Addo-led government, it is the worst ever regime in our 4th Republican dispensation. Nothing is working right now in the country and the President is simply looking on helplessly till January 6, 2025.

The worsening prevailing galamsey situation is a classic example of Akufo-Addo being a lame duck President who has no more influence or ability to decisively act. He is clearly trying to please the NPP fraternity going into the crucial upcoming general elections while the ordinary Ghanaians and the natural environment suffer from the indiscriminate galamsey operations.

Our lame duck President Akufo-Addo appears to have checked out already and simply waiting for the upcoming general elections to take place and the inauguration of his successor.

This is a sad situation because between now and January 6, 2025, is still a good period for President Akufo-Addo to take good decisions and try to correct a few wrongs before he leaves office finally on January 6, 2025.

Before Ghanaians finally decide the successor to President Akufo-Addo, he should keep the soul and peace of the country together as he came to meet it on January 7, 2017, if he cannot make it better.