Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has criticized certain academicians who were vocal during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but have now remained silent after receiving appointments in the current government.
Speaking in an interview on Okay FM on February 13, 2025, Obiri Boahen described it as intellectually disgraceful for academicians who were once outspoken in critiquing governance to go silent after assuming government positions.”
“We are in a system where certain university lecturers organized groups to complain about the economy, especially the state of water bodies. They raised concerns repeatedly. However, when a new government took over and offered them positions, they became silent,” he stated.
He specifically mentioned Prof. Ransford Gyampo, a renowned political science professor at the University of Ghana who is now the Acting CEO of the Ghana Shippers Authority.
According to Obiri Boahen, Gyampo among others was actively criticizing the government on issues such as illegal mining (galamsey) but is now holding positions in President John Dramani Mahama’s administration without maintaining the same level of scrutiny.
“Certain University of Ghana lecturers who were actively criticizing the government over galamsey and other issues have now taken positions. In any disciplined society, such individuals would say, we are a civil society group, and we always hold the government accountable.
“But now, Gyampo, who used to write and criticize the government and received praise for it, has gone quiet since getting a position. I haven’t seen him tweeting anymore,” he lamented.
“It is only some black intellectuals who behave like this. I am being frank with you. Now, he is quiet…”
“This kind of behaviour does not reflect well on us as intellectuals. All the attacks and criticism against Akufo-Addo, where are they now? Now that they have positions, they are silent,” he added.
AM/KA
