The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on Samuel Atta Akyea, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency, to apologise to former President John Dramani Mahama over a comment he made about him.
Addressing a crowd in the Eastern Region, Samuel Atta Akyea encouraged Ghanaians to remain optimistic about the prospect of excellent governance under Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s leadership.
“Ghana is fortunate to have an economist who is composed, knowledgeable, and abstains from alcohol. We are truly blessed. Ghana is on the verge of having a president with wisdom, a leader who is astute and refrains from drinking alcohol,” he said.
However, the NDC condemned him for the utterance in a press statement signed by General Secretary Fifi Kwetey.
“The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken note of the unfortunate and baseless remarks made by Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency, during a mini-rally held on 28th August 2024.
“Hon. Atta Akyea, in his address, made a reckless and unfounded allegation suggesting that the NDC’s Flagbearer, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is a drunkard and an alcoholic.
“The NDC is appalled by this descent into the gutter by a senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who should know better. Such comments not only undermine the decency of political discourse but also expose the desperation of the NPP in the face of an imminent electoral defeat.
“It is deeply regrettable that instead of focusing on issues that matter to the Ghanaian people, the NPP has resorted to personal attacks and character assassination,” part of the press statement said.
In the press statement, the NDC argued that given the MP’s calibre, he should have known better with his utterances.
The party cautioned Atta Akyea that if he fails to issue an apology to Mahama, who doubles as the flagbearer of the NDC, they would retaliate.
“For the record, H.E. John Dramani Mahama is not a drunkard. He is a distinguished statesman whose commitment to the well-being and progress of Ghana is unquestionable. His track record in public service and his enduring leadership qualities speak for themselves.
“We demand an immediate retraction and apology from Hon. Atta Akyea for his unprovoked attack on the person of H.E. John Dramani Mahama. Failure to do so will leave the NDC with no choice but to explore all available avenues to defend the integrity and reputation of our flagbearer.
“The NDC wishes to assure the good people of Ghana that we remain committed to a campaign of ideas and solutions. We call on the leadership of the NPP to rein in their members and focus on a clean and respectful campaign that addresses the concerns of the Ghanaian electorate,” the statement added.
