Samuel Atta Akyea
Ghana’s political landscape was shaken this week as the ever-outspoken Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, unleashed a bombshell that’s got the nation talking. In a fiery address during a party gathering in the Eastern Region, Atta Akyea, known for his blunt and unfiltered commentary, declared that Ghana is on the verge of electing a “wise man who does not drink alcohol” as its next leader.
The former Works and Housing Minister’s remarks came during a durbar to welcome the New Patriotic Party’s 2024 Presidential flagbearer, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia. With the Vice President standing by, Atta Akyea praised Bawumia as a “calm economist” and “a son of a wise man,” but it was his pointed comment about alcohol that sent shockwaves through the political arena.
The comment, though seemingly harmless to some, has sparked a fierce backlash from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The opposition party wasted no time in condemning Atta Akyea’s words, accusing him of throwing shade at their flagbearer, former President John Mahama, even if he stopped short of mentioning names.
In a scathing response, NDC insiders fumed that Atta Akyea’s thinly veiled jab was not just an attack on Mahama but on all previous presidents of Ghana. “Is Atta Akyea suggesting that every leader before Bawumia was a drunkard?” one irate NDC member questioned. “This is an insult to the highest office of the land and the legacy of our leaders.”
The NDC General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey described Atta Akyea’s remarks as “a descend into the gutter” and “a sign of desperation” from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the elections.
“John Dramani Mahama is not a drunkard,” Kwetey said. “He is a distinguished statesman whose commitment to the well-being and progress of Ghana is unquestionable.”
The NDC demanded an immediate retraction and apology from Atta Akyea, warning that failure to do so would lead to the party exploring “all available avenues” to defend Mahama’s integrity.
Here at The Hawk, we can’t help but agree that Atta Akyea’s remarks seem to carry a deeper, more controversial meaning. By singling out Bawumia as the only “wise man” who refrains from drinking, the Abuakwa legislator has, by implication, painted a rather unflattering picture of his predecessors—including his own party’s William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and John Agyekum Kufour.
This isn’t the first time Atta Akyea’s mouth has landed him in hot water, but this latest outburst might just be his most incendiary yet. The NDC is demanding an immediate apology, while supporters of Bawumia are rallying behind the idea of a “sober leader for a sober nation.”
As the 2024 elections draw nearer, it’s clear that the political rhetoric is only going to heat up. But one thing’s for sure—Atta Akyea’s latest comments have set the stage for a fiery campaign season, with alcohol, wisdom, and sobriety now at the center of the debate.
But will this controversy have legs, or will it be brushed off as just another case of political grandstanding? Only time will tell. For now, Ghanaians are left to ponder: is this really about a leader who doesn’t drink, or is it more about who’s got the power—and who’s willing to get tipsy on it?
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