A stalwart member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, Fred Okyere, has criticized the media for focusing excessively on President Akufo-Addo’s administration’s shortcomings while neglecting its achievements.
Reflecting on the factors that may have contributed to the NPP’s disappointing performance in the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections, the former Nhyiaeso NPP aspirant pointed out that, despite internal challenges within the party, the media played a significant role by prioritizing negative narratives over the accomplishments of the current government.
Speaking on the Cup of Tea morning show on Ultimate 106.9 FM in Kumasi, he stated, “The media bears part of the blame for our poor performance in the elections. They were too fixated on minor negatives in Nana Addo’s administration.”
“We faced challenging times, but you cannot overlook the numerous achievements. For instance, there was a period—two years, to be precise—when significant road projects were undertaken. Do you recall the ‘Year of Roads’? Inner roads in the Ashanti Region saw considerable improvements, yet the media failed to highlight these,” he emphasized.
He further added, “We constructed schools, hospitals, and interchanges, but the media chose not to project these successes. Instead, they focused on the negatives, which diverted attention from the commendable efforts of this government. However, I believe that one day, Ghanaians will recognize Nana Addo as a true leader.”
Fred Okyere also directed criticism at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which emerged victorious in both the parliamentary and presidential elections. He accused the NDC of capitalizing on the negative media coverage to advance their propaganda.
“The NDC exploited the negative reports and amplified their propaganda, which politically benefited them. However, they should be prepared for the same scrutiny,” he remarked.
He concluded by cautioning the NDC against complacency. “They must not become overly jubilant about their victory. We are watching and waiting to see if their governance will be any different. That said, I wish them luck,” he said.
