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Friday, February 7, 2025

Netizens backtrack on Hardcastle criticism after Annoh-Dompreh’s controversial remarks

Emeafa Hardcastle (L) and Frank Annoh-Dompreh (R) Emeafa Hardcastle (L) and Frank Annoh-Dompreh (R)

The Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Petroleum Commission, Emeafa Hardcastle, has once again gained attention on social media, this time with many netizens offering apologies for previously criticising her.

The shift in public sentiment follows controversial remarks made by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who is now facing widespread condemnation for inciting violence against members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Many who had initially rebuked Hardcastle for calling Annoh-Dompreh ‘silly’ during their past confrontation are now reconsidering their stance.

Some social media users admit they were too quick to judge Hardcastle, suggesting that she may have recognized the lawmaker’s true nature long before his latest outburst.

The Nsawam/Adoagyiri lawmaker is under intense scrutiny after openly encouraging New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters to engage in political violence.

Addressing party loyalists, he instructed them to physically defend fellow NPP members in any confrontation with the opposition.

“If you are a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and you come across a fellow party member fighting with a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), step in and help your fellow party member,” he stated.

Even more troubling, Annoh-Dompreh threatened to disrupt Parliament if the Electoral Commission (EC) does not comply with NPP demands regarding the re-collation of results for the December 2024 Ablekuma North parliamentary election.

“If they (NDC) are not reasonable enough to know that, based on the collated results, we have won the Ablekuma North parliamentary election, the NDC MPs will not know peace in Parliament. We will continue to demonstrate. So, if they do not allow the EC to re-collate, they will not know peace. We are giving the EC one week to declare the results. Why did the NDC burn the pink sheets? Ablekuma North is for the NPP. We are winning,” he declared.

Annoh-Dompreh’s reckless remarks have been widely condemned, with critics warning that such inflammatory rhetoric could destabilize the country and spark political violence.

Many Ghanaians have expressed outrage, describing his words as irresponsible, dangerous, and unbecoming of a lawmaker.

His behavior has also raised concerns about the NPP’s political future, with some analysts suggesting that voters may punish the party in the 2028 elections for tolerating such conduct.

Meanwhile, Hardcastle’s reputation has received a boost, as her past criticism of Annoh-Dompreh now seems justified in the eyes of many Ghanaians.

Netizens who once berated her are now retracting their condemnations, with some even praising her for having the courage to speak the truth about the lawmaker’s character long before his latest outburst.

While many social media users have condemned Annoh-Dompreh’s words and extended apologies to Hardcastle, some die-hard NPP supporters have rallied behind the lawmaker, insisting that he was simply demonstrating loyalty to his party.

Regardless of the division, one thing is clear, Annoh-Dompreh’s comments have reignited debates about political violence, accountability, and the dangers of reckless rhetoric from public officials.

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In the meantime, find out why Duncan-Williams cried after seeing Akufo-Addo, Mahama together

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