Pressure mounts on Akufo-Addo to clear ‘old guards’

Intelligence picked up by The Chronicle indicates that President Akufo-Addo has come under severe pressure to get rid of the old guards and appointment the youth, who are the future leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into his government.

Several social media posts sighted by The Chronicle on the subject indicate that the youth are not happy with the way the President appointed his ‘classmates’ in Kufuor’s administration into his government, and wanted the situation to change this time round.

One such comment from a Facebook User, Tete Nokobi, reads: “What legacy does the old man want to leave in the party? That he cared less about growth opportunities for the youth? If up to now someone like Kyerematen, Kan Dapaa, Ambrose Dery, Kofi Ghana, KK Sarpong et al cannot boast of replacements for their roles then that’s a failure for the party”.

Another comment from Matin Sadick Jnr, a Facebook user, adds “They shouldn’t just give way, they should resign from ever accepting appointments and get a seat at the party’s council of elders auditorium and help shape the party for better!”

Also commenting on Facebook, Thermo De Kardinal stressed that “It is long overdue, these old men continue to disappoint us, let’s give the youth more opportunities and we will certainly do much better – Time to retire the old.”

With President Akufo-Addo yet to appoint Deputy Ministers, Board Chairpersons and Board Members, Chief Executive Officers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, it remains to be seen if the appeal by NPP activists will be heeded by President Akufo-Addo, whom many describe as a “listening President.”

The Chronicle reproduces   in full in an article written by Mr. P.K. Sarpong, one of the many voices advocating a change in course by President Akufo-Addo.

1. PRESIDENT, LET THE TIRED LIMBS REST

There’s this phraseology one quickly fell in love with back in the days as young boys and girls which read “The Young Shall Grow”.

It was very inspirational to many young people at the time and even today, it hasn’t lost its soothing effects on the young, up and coming ones.

The New Patriotic Party coming into office in the year 2001 saw the appointments of men and women who steered the affairs of the country. For eight years, these appointees served the country under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration in various capacities.

In 2008, the party exited office as the NDC took over the reins of power for eight years. The NPP came back to office upon winning the 2016 elections.

Though many Ghanaians believed at the time that the old guards had served the country for eight solid years and had to be made to sit outside for new people to be brought in, the President went ahead to appoint many of the  people who worked with President John Agyekum Kufuor to man some ministries and other state agencies.

President Akufo-Addo, for good reasons, worked with them for four more years. We are in 2021, another four year term has begun and these old appointees are still lurking around the corridors of power?

This is demoralising to the youth of the party. Mr. President should do away with these old guards by appointing new but youthful men and women into these positions.

It is time new energies, ideas and philosophies were injected into this administration by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as that is the only way the youth who have gone through the mill would have not only the opportunity to exhibit their inate talents and experiences but also serve as motivational emblems for their peers.

It must be emphasized that these old guards got appointed into office by President John Agyekum Kufuor at the same ages the youth of today in the party have attained, so it becomes strange that they are unwilling to give way to the new blood.

Twelve years of serving as appointees are more than enough for anyone to impact positively on the growth and development of this country and, therefore, does not need to be given additional four years. The law of diminishing returns should act as a guide as we move forward.

In conclusion, we need new blood, new ideas, the youth to be integral parts of this administration. The old guards have played their roles. Politics, just like life, is a stage, you play your role, exit the scene and then others take over your role to exhibit what they also know or have learnt.

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