A blistering war of words has erupted on social media between Akosua Manu, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency in the last election, and Franklin Cudjoe, the outspoken founding President of IMANI Africa, over the latter’s apparent defence of the current government.
In a sharp and personal rebuke, Akosua Manu, also known as Kozie, accused Franklin Cudjoe of being a shameless apologist for a government she says has lost all moral and strategic direction.
Her reaction was triggered by a Facebook post from Franklin Cudjoe in which he used metaphor to suggest the current administration is dealing with the aftermath of the “crimes committed in the last painful years.”
“True,” Franklin Cudjoe wrote, “We are just finding out that the many crimes committed in the last painful years had many many babies who have just been born and have swamped the hospitals with almost all of them on life support”.
“These babies abnormally averagely weigh 50kg due to overfeeding from stolen wealth and futures. We need to do so much to recover all our looted funds and make sure we can reduce the weight of these babies.”
But Akosua Manu, clearly incensed, did not take this sitting down. In a detailed counter-post, she accused Cudjoe of hypocrisy and blind loyalty.
“When it comes to responding to you, I often hesitate because you and I got acquainted long before I entered the political space,” she began, suggesting that personal history had restrained her from confronting him earlier.
“It’s a default setting of mine not to let politics ruin friendships, but I have quickly learnt that the standard I have set is too high.”
She expressed shock at what she described as Franklin Cudjoe’s dramatic U-turn in supporting the government, especially within just 100 days of its tenure.
“Franklin, your spirited advocacy and defence of this government in the face of barefaced lies and total lack of direction in just 100 days leaves no doubt about what is ahead of us,” she wrote.
Lamenting what she sees as deliberate misinformation, Akosua Manu warned that worse may come.
“When it gets worse — although I pray it does not — I hope you will continue to defend the ridiculousness you so want us to embrace and come full circle as a man who will rather die than do what is right.”
She didn’t stop there. Questioning Franklin Cudjoe’s motivations, she asserted: “Your motivation for it is an open secret and I do not expect you to find anything wrong with this government; not at all.”
Akosua Manu catalogued what she considers the government’s failures: “From galamsey, historic cocaine busts, fuel price hikes, dumsor, high tariffs and a complete lack of direction, you are the purveyor of all things beyond normal in this government.”
Mockingly, she added: “You are doing a better job than the Minister of Government Communications, to be fair. I hope the President appreciates your support and elevates you soon.”
She then sarcastically referenced his ability to defend, comparing him to a football star: “Then again I’m sure there are fantastic ways of showing appreciation as is evidenced by your continued selective amnesia and eagerness to defend better than Virgil Van Dijk.”
Despite her concerns, she ended on a somewhat restrained note, invoking hope for a moral turnaround: “You almost threatened my inner peace but it’s Sunday. I hope the compass that will lead you on the straight and narrow path finds you soon.”
The online exchange has since ignited spirited debate among political watchers and social media users, with some backing Akosua Manu’s candour, while others see her attack as deflecting from internal party struggles.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
