Actor Prince David Osei has voiced strong criticism against John Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), describing Mahama’s bid to return as President of Ghana as an affront to the country’s people.
In a recent interview with GHOne TV on August 23, 2024, Osei expressed his surprise and disapproval at Mahama’s pursuit of the presidency, despite his extensive background in public service. “He has been an assemblyman, a Minister of Information, he has been a parliamentarian, he has been a vice-president; technically, he was more like the president when the late Atta Mills was in power because he was sick. So, he was more like the person running the show from behind. Then he became president,” Osei noted.
Osei questioned why a nation with a population of 33 million would consider a former president as the best option for leadership. “I do not have a problem with the man; he is such a nice gentleman. He has done enough for Ghana. My issue is that Ghana has a population of 33 million. Why must it be one man who becomes president, goes through all the ranks, and then comes back again? It looks like an insult to the whole of Ghana. It looks like the whole country lacks somebody who can manage the affairs of Ghana, and we have to bring an ex-president,” he asserted.
Osei also critiqued Mahama’s impact on the creative arts sector during his presidency. He highlighted the significance of the Year of Return initiative, introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to mark the 400th anniversary of the transatlantic slave trade. This initiative aimed to promote tourism, cultural exchange, and investment between Ghana and the diaspora. According to Osei, the Year of Return stands out as a notable achievement for the creative arts. “With the creative arts, I don’t remember any significant landmark during his tenure. If I close my eyes, I can tell you that the Year of Return is one landmark in the creative arts sector by the New Patriotic Party. The Year of Return is a major event that will stay forever,” he stated.
Despite his affiliation with the New Patriotic Party, Osei voiced support for his colleague actor John Dumelo, who is contesting for the parliamentary seat in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency on the NDC ticket. Osei criticized the NPP’s candidate, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, alleging that she was ungrateful during his previous campaign efforts on her behalf.
