Lands Minister nominee Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah has clarified his comments about former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration, which gained significant attention following the latter's last State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament.

The January 3 comment which went viral has been described by many including the opposition New Patriotic Party as scornful.

This came up during the MP's vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 27.

The Ellembele legislator insisted that his remarks were not personal attacks on the former president but rather a reflection of public sentiment.

"I have enormous respect for President Akufo-Addo and any president that will occupy this highest seat of our land because the decisions that they are confronted with are enormous, and grave, and so I don't think we take that lightly at all. I was reflecting the views of the people of Ghana, who felt that they have gone through so many hardships, and that's why the reference was to his government and not to his person," Mr Armah Kofi-Buah explained in response to a question from Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh.

On whether he would retract the statement with the benefit of hindsight, the nominee insisted that "As Deputy Majority Leader, I had a duty that day, and I believe those were words that resonated with the people of Ghana."

"Now, if there are words that came out that sounded in any way disrespectful, I'll regret it," he added.

• Read also: Ghanaians have already given a verdict on the true state of the nation – Armah Kofi-Buah

Minority Chief Whip Annor Dompreh did not appear satisfied with the answer and probed further on the perceived harshness of the tone.

The nominee answered: "If there are words that can convene the exact things that I said that in your view, are better than what I said maybe you can give me, so then at another opportunity, I can use those words."

Background

On January 3, shortly after former President Akufo-Addo delivered his final SONA in Parliament, Mr Armah Kofi-Buah, in his capacity as the Minority Leader at the time, delivered scathing remarks summarizing what he described as widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s tenure.

“The people of Ghana have already given their verdict on the true state of the country, and that verdict was very clear: economic hardship, huge debt, high youth unemployment, hopelessness, and more. We have come to the end of the road under what has undoubtedly been the worst government in the Fourth Republic,” he stated.

The MP also criticized what he described as reckless borrowing and mismanagement, citing the controversial National Cathedral project as emblematic of the administration’s priorities. “Mr. President, you will be remembered as the first president who was cushioned by the IMF when you began, and you are still being cushioned at the end of your term… I will leave the matter of the cathedral between you and your God,” he added.

Despite the criticism, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah reiterated during his vetting that his remarks represented the frustrations of Ghanaians and were not intended as a personal attack.