Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly criticized the outgoing president, Nana Akufo-Addo, accusing him of being the mastermind behind what he described as the wrongdoings in the system since 2017.

The chairman claimed that several of the nation's troubles in recent years, including the post-election violence in 2020, which resulted in the loss of lives, corrupt practices by some government officials, and other misdeeds, were orchestrated by the outgoing president.

He argued that the state honours awarded to many top officials in the president's government demonstrated that the president supports the numerous wrongs that have occurred in the country.

“We have begun conferring state honours on looters and murderers. What are we doing? We are teaching the youth that, after all, there is nothing wrong with looting state coffers, that after all, there is nothing wrong with shooting and killing your fellow Ghanaians. If anyone had any doubt about the mastermind behind all the killings and looting over the past eight years, I believe the award ceremony that took place yesterday has cleared all doubts. All the wrongdoings committed by Nana Akufo-Addo's appointees were actually endorsed by the big man himself,” he alleged.

Mr Nketia made these remarks at the NDC’s 43rd anniversary of the 31st December Revolution in Accra on Tuesday, December 31.

According to him, state awards should be given to individuals who have played significant roles in a nation's building and development, not to individuals of questionable character such as the former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and outgoing Fisheries Minister, Hawa Koomson.

The outgoing MP, Hawa Koomson, was allegedly involved in the shooting and killing of constituents in Kasoa during the 2020 general election. She has since faced public criticism for her actions throughout her political career. She was also accused of carrying out similar violent acts in the just-ended 2024 election.

“Why would anyone with a properly functioning mind award someone like Hawa Koomson, who was involved in shooting and killing Ghanaians during the elections?” Asiedu Nketia said.

He emphasized, “State awards are serious matters and should be reserved for people of distinction – people who have fought for a good cause. If we are awarding state honours to vigilante groups, then that is the message we are sending to the youth: that it is acceptable to pick up weapons and shoot at people, that it is acceptable to loot state coffers when given the opportunity to serve as a minister.”