From friend to critic: Franklin Cudjoe lists sins of Akufo-Addo

The founding president of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, saying that he has changed from being an advocate and friend to a strident critic.

In a recent piece titled “Franklin Cudjoe’s unfiltered truth: My journey from friendship to critique with President Nana Addo,” the policy analyst revealed that his friendship with Nana Addo extended to professional collaboration, where he and his team were consulted on the feasibility of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program by then-candidate Akufo-Addo.

But as he has become more and more frustrated with the way the Akufo-Addo administration has managed the economy, the relationship has soured. He has accused the government of engaging in “crookish multi-million dollar procurement scams” and allowing illegal mining to devastate the nation’s rivers and forests.

He cites specific instances, such as the controversial deals with GENSER and the Aker oil deal, which he claims cost Ghana nearly $30 billion.

“Now Nana’s legacy is that he supervised the most fiscally reckless economy since independence, left us with humongous debts to last a lifetime, and succeeded in literally cutting us off from borrowing from the international markets. What irks me the most is his cantankerous cathedral project with a hole waiting for God’s possible fresh anointing. It will never happen before he leaves the office.”

“So yes, Nana Addo was my friend, and only true friends can tell each other boldly in the face of the truth. Nana, your legacy is ruined.”

“We can be friends again when I read your memoir apologizing for taking us on a bumpy ride to your hell’s kitchen,” the IMANI boss wrote.