The founder and president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has likened the comparison of Akufo-Addo to Dr Kwame Nkrumah to “comparing light to darkness”.

According to Cudjoe, both Akufo-Addo and Nkrumah have plunged the economy into bankruptcy, but Akufo-Addo, with more access to funds, has plunged Ghana deeper into the abyss.

Cudjoe’s remarks come on the heels of the recent statement made by Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who drew comparisons between the performance of the current president and that of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah. Dr Opoku Prempeh’s statement, which praised Akufo-Addo for doing “incredibly well,” triggered a considerable backlash.

Read also: Not even your Kwame Nkrumah developed Ghana like Akufo-Addo – Opoku Prempeh

During an interview on Channel One TV, Mr Franklin Cudjoe said, “There’s a need for comparison, and upon hindsight, I think many could have probably been saying something similar. I think I have seen on our news items, dating back to Rawlings’ time, somebody saying Rawlings was far ahead of Nkrumah. And I kept saying that every era has some levels of political idiocy, which is allowed; we allow these things.

“Probably, the only near truth to comparing Nana Addo [President] to Nkrumah is that they both bankrupted the economy by the time they were forced out of power. They had both bankrupted the economy, but Nana Addo [the president] had much more because he had much more free money. And he should have been a bit wiser because he had so much to learn from previous leaders and pitfalls. This administration had the most money.

“That is the only comparison I can make, in terms of actual fact, pound for pound, not at all. It’s like daylight and darkness. But NAPO is permitted. I don’t even know why he actually apologised because, frankly speaking, that is what he believes in, right? He believes in that. Just trying to rewrite history doesn’t wash.”

Mr Cudjoe stressed that President Akufo-Addo exhibits “dictatorial tendencies," even going as far as drawing comparisons to Kwame Nkrumah’s leadership.

He referenced the controversial case of former Auditor General Daniel Domelevo, who, according to Cudjoe, was forced to vacate his position against his will, a situation that highlights what he sees as the president’s authoritarian inclination.

“Not listening, not paying attention to any sound advice… Nkrumah was quite stubborn; remember that? He became dictatorial, and all that. I’m not saying he is a dictator, but he has those tendencies. Look at Domelevo’s treatment [By Akufo-Addo].”