Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has criticised various policy decisions made during the Akufo-Addo administration, identifying the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the National Cathedral initiative, and the Power Distribution Services (PDS) agreement as contributing factors to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general elections.
During an appearance on The Delay Show, hosted by Deloris Frimpong Manso, he stated that he never grasped the reasoning behind these initiatives and disclosed that he was not consulted prior to their execution.
The former President noted that the NPP’s success in the 2016 elections was significantly based on the accomplishments of his administration, which laid the groundwork for the party’s campaign at that time.
Nevertheless, he remarked that the course of governance shifted once Akufo-Addo took office.
“Before the 2016 election in which Akufo-Addo was elected, the campaign was built on my achievements,” he said.
“Those achievements played a key role in his victory. The government started on a good note, but things changed after he assumed power”.
He pointed to the challenges in the bond market, the PDS controversy, and the National Cathedral project as policies he struggled to comprehend.
Mr. Kufuor expressed regret that important national assets, such as residential buildings for judges and other officials, were demolished for the construction of the National Cathedral, which remains incomplete.
He mentioned that he was not part of any discussions regarding the project and only became aware of developments through observation.
“After the COVID-19 pandemic, I could not understand some of the decisions taken, including the bond market issues, PDS and the National Cathedral project, which has still not been completed.
“I was not consulted, as I did not attend cabinet meetings. I only saw the construction. Apartments that housed judges and others were demolished for the National Cathedral, yet it remains unfinished,” he said.
Reflecting on the NPP’s electoral performance, the former President highlighted the party’s landslide win in 2016, the tense and inconclusive 2020 elections that produced a hung Parliament, and the eventual loss in 2024.
“We won the 2016 elections by a landslide. The 2020 elections were tense and produced a hung Parliament, and the 2024 elections were something else entirely. This shows that the Ghanaian electorate should never be taken for granted. It is a lesson for politicians to be mindful of their actions,” he added.
