Accra: A senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku, clashed with Media General journalist Berlinda Addardey, also known as Berla Mundi, over discussion on the alleged attempts by the government to privatise the state metal smelting firm, Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO). The disagreement stemmed from Nsafoah's explanation of how the previous government handled the matter. Addardey then pressed him on why former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia could not resolve the issue while in office, given the explanations offered by Nsafoah.
According to Ghana Web, the exchanges became heated after Nsafoah's comments about Dr Bawumia's leadership capabilities, especially in the context of the upcoming 2024 elections. Nsafoah highlighted the role of Dr Bawumia and the former president, Akufo-Addo, in forming advisory teams to address the VALCO situation. His comments prompted criticism from another panellist, Ramzu Inusah of the United Party, who expressed his displeasure with Nsafoah's defense of Dr Bawumia.
Visibly displeased by the criticism, Nsafoah interrupted Inusah's speech, urging him to cease what he perceived as baseless accusations against Dr Bawumia. Addardey intervened to restore order and encouraged Nsafoah to allow Inusah to complete his argument before responding, emphasizing a fair discourse.
The discussion was further complicated by recent protests from VALCO workers and the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICU) against the alleged government plans to privatize VALCO, which they believe could involve transferring a majority stake to a private investor. These claims have been publicly refuted by both Ibrahim Mahama and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), who insist that there are no such plans to sell VALCO to Mahama or any other private entity.
Nsafoah continued to express frustration over what he considered unfair criticism of Dr Bawumia, urging for a focus on the actual topic of VALCO's future rather than personal attacks. Despite the interruptions, the program managed to proceed with the discussion, highlighting the ongoing tension surrounding the privatization claims and the political implications for involved parties.