Odike On Kufuor For Abandoning Ghana In Its Darkest Hour

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s recently reflected on the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s economic management under the Akufo-Addo’s administration in an interview on ‘The Delay Show’ (hosted by Deloris Frimpong Manso, often referred to as “Delay”).

Appearing on the show on December 6, Kufuor expressed bewilderment over several Akufo-Addo government policies, which he linked directly to the NPP’s crushing defeat in the 2024 general elections.

Akwasi Addai Odike’s specific remarks on Angel FM from December 8, 2025 (likely due to the recency of the broadcast and limited real-time indexing), the core elements are corroborated by news coverage of Kufuor’s interview and Odike’s history of vocal criticism toward the NPP.

He specifically mentioned the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) and described not understanding its rationale, calling it a misstep that eroded public trust.

He also touched on the National Cathedral Project, where he was excluded from consultations. The former President questioned its priority amid economic hardship, stating it “doomed” the party’s image.

He also spoke about the Power Distribution Services (PDS) Deal. He criticized this as another opaque decision that fueled perceptions of mismanagement.

Kufuor admitted the administration “veered off course” post-COVID-19, drifting from sound governance principles. He likened internal party rivalries to plots against him in the 1990s, emphasizing unity but implicitly faulting leadership for economic woes.

In response, Akwasi Addai Odike — founder of the United Progressive Party (UPP) and a frequent critic of both the NPP and NDC — said he was “surprised” by the timing of Kufuor’s admission. He argued that it merely confirmed long-standing concerns about the NPP’s mismanagement, including ballooning debt, inflation, and environmental destruction linked to galamsey.

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Odike criticised the former President for remaining silent throughout the Akufo-Addo era, insisting that earlier intervention from respected statesmen like Kufuor could have “saved Ghana” from deeper crisis.

According to Odike, Kufuor was aware of everything happening within the administration, and if he had joined voices like Odike’s in publicly calling out the wrongs, many of the resulting problems could have been avoided.

Odike’s rebuttal amplifies calls for cross-party reckoning, especially as Ghana grapples with inherited debt (projected at 88% of GDP in 2025) and recovery efforts under the new administration.