2020 in review: Mistakes that nearly sent Akufo-Addo to opposition
On December 7, 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was re-elected for another four-year term.
He defeated former President John Dramani Mahama his main contender by collecting 51.302% of the votes.
Mahama polled 47.359%.
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The votes difference between the two candidates stood at 517, 231, representing a four percentage point, one of the highest since 1996.
Source: Original
Even though the president’s victory came as no surprise to many, he committed few blunders here and there that threatened his second term bid.
Below are some of the most egregious mistakes committed by President Akufo-Addo in 2020.
Sacking of Domelevo
President Akufo-Addo directed the Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo to proceed on leave, effective July 1, 2020.
A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin said the Domelevo was to take his 123 annual accumulated leave.
Domelevo was asked to hand over all matters relating to his office to his Deputy, Mr. Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu.
The action of the president was greeted with anger among CSOs in the country, forcing many to question Akufo-Addo’s commitment to the fight against corruption.
Campaigning against Member of Parliament-elect for Fomena
President Akufo-Addo vigorously campaigned against the candidature of Andrew Amoaka Asiamah, who had decided to go independent in the 2020 polls.
Akufo-Addo warned electorates in the constituency in the run-up to the elections that Amoaka Asiamah’s decision would stunt the development of the constituency thus must be rejected.
“You have seen that the independent candidate will not help Fomena, it won’t help Adansi,” Akufo-Addo said.
Unfortunately, for the president he would have to rely on the stone he rejected to gain a working majority in the eighth Parliament.
Vote for Nii Lante Vanderpuye
President Akufo Addo gaffed on his final campaign trail at Mantse Agbona in the Odododiodio Constituency in Accra when he referred to the NPP’s contesting Member of Parliament for the constituency - Nii Lante Bannerman - as Nii Lante Vanderpuye.
It all happened when Nana Addo was introducing all parliamentary contestants to hundreds of party supporters on the campaign grounds.
Agyapa deal
This is a mistake that threatened to bring down the president’s entire reelection campaign.
The deal, according to the former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu was orchestrated to serve “only a few persons within the New Patriotic Party”.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
