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Ghana's First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo trolled for 'defending' her husband after 8 years in office
Ghana's First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo trolled for 'defending' her husband after 8 years in office
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
Outgoing First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has come under scrutiny on social media following her reaction after President Nana Akufo-Addo’s final State of the Nation Address on Friday, January 3, 2025.
During his address, President Akufo-Addo detailed his government’s achievements over the past eight years, emphasizing that Ghana was not in financial distress, with nearly $8 billion in gross international reserves as he prepared to leave office.
However, his claims were sharply criticized by Deputy Minority Leader and Ellembele MP Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who labeled the president’s leadership as a failure, referencing the outcome of the December 7 elections where the NPP lost to the NDC.
"This abysmal record was confirmed on December 7th when the people of Ghana delivered the most overwhelming and emphatic vote of rejection any government has ever witnessed in the Fourth Republic," Buah stated.
He accused the Akufo-Addo administration of reckless borrowing and poor financial management, adding:
"Mr. President, you will be remembered as the first president who was cautioned by the IMF when you began, and you are still being cautioned at the end of your term. You left something very important in your account – you left out an account of your promise to God to build a cathedral. But, Mr. President, I will leave that between you and your God."
Following the address, Speaker Alban Bagbin adjourned proceedings, but a visibly upset Mrs. Akufo-Addo was seen expressing frustration over the Speaker's inaction during Buah’s critical remarks. In widely shared videos, she reportedly refused a request from Bagbin and said in Ga, "I won’t go," while adding, "You sit there and allow people to speak to..."
The First Lady’s reaction has since sparked debate on social media platform X. Some users supported her stance, praising her for standing up for her husband.
"No good wife would allow someone talk to the husband like that. Those commenting that she is arrogant and things, how do you feel when your dad that isn't even on the level of Nana Addo is insulted?" one user wrote.
Others, however, criticized her response, describing it as undemocratic. They argued that public figures should be open to scrutiny, highlighting how former President John Mahama and his wife Lordina Mahama also faced criticism during their tenure without such reactions.
Some comments from X users below.
"She is angry and getting protective of her husband is understandable, but does she is angry at how her husband has handled the country?"
"Sadly she was not upset about Serwa Broni, Efia Schwarzenegger and co who said worse things about her husband but Speaker Bagbin?"
"People become uncomfortable and angry when the truth is spoken"
"I remember when Attah Mills was called by Akufo Addo as Lame-dark president. I don’t think her husband was treated the same way. We’re watching oooooo, yoooooo. There’re so many instances we can refer her to ooooo. I don’t think I will ever vote for NPP again with this behavior"
"When her husband referred to Mahama as incompetent, did Mahama's wife utter a word?. All I can say is that, the Akuffo addo family are non-tolerant. They don't like criticisms but are the first to criticize when they have the chance."
The backlash continues as social media debates the boundaries of personal loyalty and public accountability in leadership.
