Senior lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Dr. Michael Adongo Ayamga has chastised president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo while eulogising Ghana’s first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and last military ruler and first president of the Fourth Republic Jerry John Rawlings.
Dr. Adongo Ayamga argued that the two former presidents exuded exceptional leadership in their handling of the affairs of the country, resulting in significant achievements unlike the current president.
He said Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did not just led the country to gain independence, but also initiated transformational projects and policies and was on the verge of laying a foundation for the development of the country when he was overthrown.
Ghana, he claimed, retrogressed following his ousting and only got back on track under the reign of J. J. Rawlings.
He stated that the Rawlings’ regime spearheaded massive infrastructure development including the construction of roads, making every part of the country accessible.
Dr. Ayamga particular lauded the Junior Secondary School system introduced under the Rawlings administration.
Describing it as a phenomenal initiative, he stated that, “nothing comes near it, not free SHS, not anything. Because right from that time it immediately expanded access to secondary education and to university education. It’s unfortunate we didn’t actualize the ideas of JSS system as former president Rawlings wanted. But it changed everything”.
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the country, adding that he feels hurt by the performance of the current president and his government.
“if I look at the president we have today and imagine that he is sitting at the seat where someone like Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was sitting and producing what he is producing in this country under freedom, I get really upset”.
The development economics lecturer was speaking on the occasion of Ghana’s 67th Independence anniversary.
He observed that although the country chalked some level of success in developmental journey, it failed to maximize its numerous potentials.
