Manasseh Azure Awuni > Quotes

“When the pandemic struck, Ghana, with a population of 31 million, had only 67 ventilators in its public hospitals. The number of ministers of state was more than twice the number of ventilators available to face the pandemic. Medical experts said ventilators were vital in treating the respiratory conditions occasioned by the virus. However, the nation bought less than 70 ventilators during the outbreak. That brings us to the next question. If the core fight against the pandemic did not receive the needed funding, then where did all the borrowed and domestic funds go? On what did Ghana spend so much that COVID-19 continues to feature as the main reason for the Akufo-Addo government's economic woes?”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“An activist who protested with Akufo-Addo in the Rawlings era, Charles Wereko-Brobbey, thinks Akufo-Addo's presidency has been worse than the Rawlings regime…. . In an interview for this book, Wereko-Brobbey said the things he said and wrote in the Rawlings era and went home without ever being arrested would have got him in serious trouble in the Akufo-Addo presidency.”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“Mr. Boakye Antwi said the nature of Ghana's constitution made it almost impossible to hold the president and government accountable. He said MPs of the governing party must support the government in everything or get into trouble.
"If your party is in office, you cannot go against the government.
MPs are here like robots. You have to support the government, whether it is right or wrong. The party is weak when it comes to the government because nobody can tell the President what to do. It applies to both parties, not just the NPP. The Constitution has given the President far too much power, and we don't have powerful institutions to check the President. CHRAJ, Supreme Court and all those institutions are appointed by the President. And as an MP, once you disagree with the President, they will unseat you.”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“While some countries developed COVID-19 vaccines to fight the pandemic, many African countries slept…. When the vaccines were ready, African leaders climbed rooftops and cried to the world to have them for free, for they were poor and could not afford to buy vaccines. President Akufo-Addo, for instance, went to Germany on a luxury private jet to beg for free vaccines.”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“He however admitted making intermittent calls to the Chief of Staff when members of the Appointment Committee approached him with demands for "motivation".
"I'd call the Chief of Staff and say, Our members have sat, and they're demotivated. You expect us to sit for long hours and finish, so you'll have your government quickly. Can you motivate members?' They [the Chief of Staff] would say, 'Okay, how many are they?' Then they would bring in money for members.”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“These and many other attacks on journalists and media houses in the Akufo-Addo era silenced some journalists. Even the most critical media houses are now cautious. Self-censorship is the new normal, and journalists who have a negative story or opinion about the government would first consider their safety before deciding to publish”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“Civil society organisations in Ghana historically align with the NPP. The NDC's revolutionary background and the unrepentant attitude of some PNDC descendants made it almost impossible for the NDC to successfully court the affection of Ghana's media and civil society when it was formed.”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“Some MPs however told me in separate interviews that bribery and cash inducements were a common feature of Ghana's Parliament.”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got

“I would be the first to caution against falling for any man who comes bearing the visible signs of humility on their foreheads, wearing white, and posing for photos with their hands in front of them like pious Catholics queuing for the Holy Communion. Even if they speak with the softer version of Archbishop Palmer-Buckle's voice, it is not enough to fall for their "humility".”
― Manasseh Azure Awuni, The President Ghana Never Got