Paul Adom-Otchere, a Broadcast Journalist and political commentator, has labelled former President Akufo-Addo as the most impactful politician of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
The veteran broadcaster cited Akufo-Addo’s early political career and advocacy for constitutionalism,
He recounted Akufo-Addo’s opposition to attempts to alter the 1992 Constitution during his time as Chair of Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee.
Paul Adom-Otchere also praised the former president for playing a major role in shaping Ghana’s multiparty democracy and media landscape.
According to him, Akufo-Addo, during his tenure as president, may have made mistakes, but claims his impact on Ghana’s political evolution remains unmatched.
The veteran broadcaster also added that Akufo-Addo cemented his place in political history by defeating then-President John Mahama in the 2016 elections with the largest margin in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Speaking in a one-on-one interview on the AM Show, Paul Adom-Otchere stated, “He may have made some mistakes, but after you look at it, I call him the most impactful politician of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
“He was the politician who gave the biggest mobilisation, fought the most for press freedom, and defended parliamentary processes at critical moments in our democratic history.”
“He still holds the record of having won the largest margin as an opposition candidate coming into the ballot,” Mr. Adom-Otchere noted, adding that the former President’s legacy will be remembered for both his political resilience and his contribution to democratic freedoms.
Also, Paul Adom-Otchere, who served as the former Board Chair of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), also touched on the Christmas tree controversy.
According to him, the Christmas tree controversy was overblown and political.
He stated, “Yeah, that Christmas tree—that was quite a much ado about nothing. It was really political”.
“Eventually, the matter went to CHRAJ, and I appeared before them. CHRAJ gave a ruling that, we believe, completely exonerated us.”
“The only disappointment I had with CHRAJ was that when I went in, I told them I wanted this filmed. It was a public hearing, and I didn’t want anyone misrepresenting the ruling. They declined, and so when the ruling came and people were picking parts of it, I told them this was exactly why I wanted it filmed,” he explained.
In late 2022, the Christmas tree saga sparked public criticism over claims of financial impropriety over GACL’s purchase and installation of Christmas decorations at KIA.
Sacut Amenga-Etego, a journalist, petitioned the Commission on what he claimed was a misuse of public funds in the procurement of Christmas trees by Paul Adom-Otchere.
CHRAJ ruling later cleared the GACL of any wrongdoing, indicating they found no evidence of procurement breach.
However added that it was wrong for him to be “requesting for invoices and his appearances in the media in respect of matters involving the GACL of which he is the Board Chairman.”