A heated exchange has erupted between Dennis Miracles Aboagye, former Communications Director of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia campaign team, and Professor Ransford Gyampo, Mahama appointed Managing Director of the Ghana Shippers Authority.
The controversy surrounds Ransford Gyampo’s alleged secret alignment with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and his role in the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) strike against the Akufo-Addo government’s handling of galamsey.
Gyampo is still holding onto his UTAG position after using the association for personal benefits.
Speaking on Asempa FM on Monday, Dennis Miracles Aboagye took on Ransford Gyampo, who was once leading a crusade against the NPP, when speaking on the rampage of galamsey activities ongoing recently under the NDC government led by President John Mahama.
He said Ransford Gyampo, before the 2024 general elections, was chasing him with documents on galamsey, trying to force Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to sign them.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned Ransford Gyampo’s motives, asking why he was making a U-turn to join the NDC after having more access to the NPP government than anyone else.
“Prof. Gyampo had more access to the NPP government than anyone else, so why is he now making a U-turn to join the NDC?” Aboagye asked.
He also questioned why Ransford Gyampo is suddenly quiet and can’t speak on the current rampage of galamsey activities ongoing under the John Mahama administration, like how he was vocal under the Akufo-Addo government
Miracles Aboagye also accused Ransford Gyampo of losing his credibility as a neutral academic, alleging that he was attacking the NPP government for personal gains.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye further criticized Gyampo’s qualifications for his current position, asking, “On what basis does he, as a Political Lecturer, qualify to be the Managing Director for Ghana’s Shippers Authority, which is not his field, if not for his personal interest?”
He described Gyampo’s actions as “using his stomach” for personal gains.
According to Miracles Aboagye, “Prof Gyampo, as a political appointee, you should be measured in how you address us ordinary Ghanaians. We will not take any form of attack on the citizenry from persons who are paid, fueled, and entertained with our taxpayers’ money.”
He further emphasized, “Instead of activating all ‘mouth cameras’ as you put it, use that energy to ensure you make our country better than you met it.”
Miracles Aboagye also stated, “Osei Bonsu OB simply made a point about you claiming the reason why you attacked the NPP government unwarrantedly was because you had no access to people in government to express your views privately and had no option than to attack them publicly at all times. That is what I responded to and said categorically was a lie and you know that’s a lie.”
He continued, “You had access to the highest persons in the previous government, and indeed, you engaged them almost all the time. So that could not have been your reason for attacking them.”
Miracles Aboagye further alleged, “Indeed, your only reason for the constant skewed attacks on the previous government was because you were an NDC member doing the bidding of the NDC, something we said severally but of course, we were not believed.”
He emphasized, “As for these epistles, know where to direct them, they should be directed at yourself and your party who have the mandate to lead our dear country and not us ordinary Ghanaians.”
In response, Gyampo fired back, stating, “Dennis, I least expected you to peddle this ignorance. Would I have been NPP if I had accepted an appointment by Nana Addo? So is Prof. Kwasi Prempeh too NDC?”
He argued, “Can’t we ever have sensible leaders who, in appreciating the enormity of the task of development, endeavor to assemble national brains to work?”
Gyampo emphasized, “Is it not a show of littleness of mind to argue that a government formed must appoint only people who belong to its party to help govern?”
Ransford Gyampo also criticized Aboagye’s role in the NPP’s recent electoral struggles, stating, “I thought after your long push into oblivion following your arrogance in public communications, which served as one of the disingenuous roles you played in pushing your party into opposition, you would come back more sober and better refined in helping to warm yourself into the heart of Ghanaians.”
He vowed, “I can multitask, so I will resume talking about your party to Ghanaians alongside whatever I am doing. You and your party must show stamina as I go on this tangent.”
The exchange between Aboagye and Gyampo has sparked a debate about the role of political appointees in criticizing governments.
–BY Daniel Bampoe
