Political Communication lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Dr. Kobby Mensah has observed that #FixTheCountry lead convener, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor is following the footsteps of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and current president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Speaking in interview on Accra-based Joy FM, Dr. Kobby Mensah said the #FixtheCountry convener, in his advocacy and public appearances, present himself as one to salvage the country and its people from bad leadership and the poor state of affairs.
This posture, he indicated, is similar to how Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and President Nana Addo carried themselves in the early stages of their political careers.
“You could almost likened this (Barker-Vormawor’s public speech) to the Nkrumah’s journey. If you look at the way Nkrumah actually carried himself during his young days towards his leadership, it was almost resemblant to this. You could also talk about the way our current president, Nana Addo for example actually carried himself during those days when he was cultivating leadership,” he stated.
He added “I think he is presenting himself as the savior, the one who can fix Ghana. He is someone who is clearly demonstrating the so-called new leadership approach. Now, he wants somehow to be referred as the poster boy, like the poster boy of the new leadership that people are actually seeking”.
Dr. Kobby Mensah’s assertion follows Mr. Barker-Vormawor’s recent public address on social media. The youth activist, who is standing trial for allegedly threatening to stage a coup d’état, vowed to continue fighting for good governance and a better country despite being prosecuted for treason felony.
He said his arrest following his coup d’état comments has made him more determined to stand against the ills in the country and assured members of the group that they “are on the precipice of victory against the bleak and defeated leadership”.
Reacting to this, Dr. Kobby Mensah asserted that the #FixTheCountry convener’s address sought to appeal to the masses to see in him as one to address the numerous challenges facing the country and offer new direction of leadership.
“When you listen to the introduction, he talks about fellow citizens and horn in to talk about the youth. So definitely, his target goes beyond the #fixthecountry membership. It goes beyond the youth and it far reaches those who want new leadership. . You could see a certain objective behind it. You look at someone that is trying to build a constituency, a track record and cultivate leadership and followership among people who seek new direction of leadership”.
