The Chief Executive Officer of the Atta-Mills Institute, Mr Samuel Koku Anyidoho has said that only sick minds will say Ghana is a banana republic.
He explained Ghana has all the state apparatus including a President, a Vice, a Speaker together with a Majority in Parliament as well as Chief Justice hence could not be described as such.
“Ghana has a President and Vice President; Ghana has a Speaker of Parliament; We now have, an NPP Majority Side of Parliament as declared by the Speaker; Ghana has a Chief Justice: it is only sick minds that will say that, Ghana, is a banana Republic”.
Mr Anyidoho made the remarks on his twitter handle on Friday, January 15, 2020.
Ghana has a President and Vice President; Ghana has a Speaker of Parliament; We now have, an NPP Majority Side of Parliament as declared by the Speaker; Ghana has a Chief Justice: it is only sick minds that will say that, Ghana, is a banana Republic.
— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) January 15, 2021
Ghana looks like a banana republic under Akufo-Addo – Mahama
Mr Anyidoho’s did not made mention of any name in his tweet, however, it could be recalled that the former President and flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), John Dramani Mahama hosting members of the NDC caucus in Parliament, about a week ago likened Ghana under President Akufo Addo to a banana republic.
What does Banana Republic mean
Dictionary.com defines banana republic as “a small, poor country, often reliant on a single export or limited resource, governed by an authoritarian regime and characterized by corruption and economic exploitation by foreign corporations conspiring with local government officials.
Or “any exploitative government that functions poorly for its citizenry while disproportionately benefiting a corrupt elite group or individual”.
Mr Mahama’s comment was in reaction to the brawl which characterized Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday, January 7 prior to the election of the Speaker and swearing-in of the 8th Parliament
“Everything that is wrong with our democracy under this President played out in Parliament that night, ex President Mahama said
“Snatching of ballot papers, attempting to disenfranchise voters by getting the Assin North MP out of the chamber, attempting to compromise the secrecy of the ballot, the entry of the military of the chamber. That is an abomination, it makes us look like a banana republic, he added.
“ Because you [MPs] were there, and you were emotionally charged, I am sure the infamy of that event did not strike you but when you see it on TV again, you will see how low our democracy has sunk under this presidency.”
