The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised President Akufo-Addo, condemning his comment that he intentionally neglected development in the Ekumfi constituency.

The largest opposition party deems the President's comments as "unpresidential" and indicative of a "vindictive" nature.

In an interview with Citi FM on Wednesday, January 17, Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy Secretary of the NDC, underscored the inappropriateness of President Akufo-Addo's approach, particularly in addressing the family of a late former president.

• Read also: Akufo-Addo attributes neglect of development in Ekumfi to residents’ vote against Ato Cudjoe

“It seems that if the president was speaking to somebody like me, it would have been acceptable, but the president being the president of the Republic of Ghana was speaking to the family, direct family members of a late former president [John Evans Atta Mills]. So, to have made such comments, for us, is unpresidential.”

“It just reflects the nature of the president we have, who is so vindictive and believes that he prioritizes politics over development. That is why his government is failing,” Mr. Gbande said.

President Akufo-Addo has disclosed that his government deliberately overlooked development in Ekumfi because the residents voted Francis Ato Cudjoe out of Parliament in the 2020 elections.

The president expressed dissatisfaction with the voting pattern in Ekumfi during an interaction with traditional leaders from the constituency at the Jubilee House.

President Akufo-Addo said despite appointing Ato Cudjoe as Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to bring development to the area, the constituents voted him out, which he was not pleased with.

"Ato Cudjoe was your MP and I made him a Deputy Minister and you voted him out in the last elections and because of that, I did not pay attention to development in your area, I have to be honest with you but since you have brought it up I will pay attention to it," the President said.