Mepe Queen Mother Mamaga Adzo Srako IV has rebuked the media for losing sight of the import of the president’s visit and his promised intervention for the victims of flooded areas in the Volta Region, and instead giving preeminence to his “little joke”.
On Monday, October 16, 2023, while on an official visit to assess the impact of flooding, resulting from the recent Akosombo Dam spillage, President Akufo-Addo, in an off-the-cuff moment made a remark emphasising his readiness to discharge his responsibility towards the disaster-stricken citizens, even though he is well aware they do not favour him and his political party, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
While his demeanour and the comment seemed lighthearted, even causing some members of his immediate audience to laugh, individuals, from within parliament to academia to social and traditional media, have criticised his person and the comment.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, addressing some traditional leaders of the Volta Region, said: “When these things happen and government acts, politics does not come in at all. I took the oath of office as president to protect every citizen of Ghana, whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath, I am the president. So Togbe, I want you and your elders and the people to understand that the government is acting for all Ghanaians.”
“I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering and it is my responsibility to try and help, because if it is a question of who votes for me and who does not vote for me, I should not be here because you don’t vote for me, that is not my concern.”
Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ketu North, Abla Dzifa Gomashie has called the utterance “shameful”; Political Science Lecturer Prof Ransford Gyampo called it “unnecessary”; and journalist Bridget Otoo slammed the president for politicking.
The Queen Mother of the Mepe Traditional Area in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, Mamaga Adzo Srako IV, however, sees things differently. Her jurisdiction is one of the flood-devastated areas, she was in the audience when the president spoke and she has mounted what seems like a defence for him, arguing there are weightier issues to spotlight.
“The president made promises that immediately he’ll see to us, and in the long term he’ll see to us.
“However, the little joke the president told, that if it were because of votes, he would not have come here, has rather become the news,” she bitterly lamented.
“That’s what you [the media] are circulating instead of the talks about the disaster that has befallen us. You chose to rather make a big deal out of the harmless joke by the president.”
She stressed: “We were not pleased with you journalists.”
Turning her attention to the pressing matter at hand, she observed “the flood waters are becoming dark, it’s becoming black, it’s becoming thick, it’s giving off a bad smell”.
She worried that “this means it is seriously contaminated, harbouring disease and sickness.
“If we keep crossing these waters, we’ll be overtaken by diseases we cannot contain.”
She informed the media that “this morning, we spoke to the District Chief Executive – we need immediate action”.
To avert further complications, the Mepe Queen Mother indicated it is “either we get a road that will take us to the camp, as they barricade the river, or they evacuate the people back into town, so that they won’t have to be crossing all those waters again”.
The interview was monitored by classfmonline.com on Republic TV’s YouTube page.