Ghanaian socialite Efia Odo has taken issue with a statement made by Prof. Kobby Mensah, a lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), regarding the purpose of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
In his statement, Prof. Mensah suggested that a PhD is not suited for individuals who are hungry, seeking employment, or aiming for entrepreneurship. He emphasized that a PhD is not intended to alleviate immediate financial needs or to serve as a pathway to employment or entrepreneurship.
Efia Odo countered this by highlighting the reality that many individuals who hold PhDs still struggle financially and face ongoing challenges in life. She pointed out that there are people without such prestigious academic qualifications who manage to earn significant incomes.
In a post on X platform, Prof. Mensah reiterated his stance that a PhD is not meant for those in dire financial need or looking for immediate employment or entrepreneurial opportunities.
In response, Efia Odo questioned on X, “So why are many PhD holders in Ghana experiencing financial difficulties?”
Political Marketing Strategist, Prof. Kobby Mensah, has remarked that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lacks strong candidates for the upcoming 2024 election.
This assessment stems from the underperformance of two out of four candidates during their respective roles in the current government.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Prof. Mensah pointed out that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Afriyie Akoto, who are vying to represent the NPP in the 2024 general election, have tarnished their political images due to their subpar performance in their previous positions.
Known for his astute political analysis, Prof. Mensah expressed skepticism about the leadership capabilities of these two contenders and suggested that the party was, “for the first time, presenting very weak candidates.”
The situation of economic management under the NPP, with Dr. Bawumia leading the Economic Management Team, was one of Prof. Mensah’s main concerns.
“Economic management has been in shambles, and I’m surprised that they are trying to tout Dr. Bawumia’s credentials.”
The Political Strategist further criticised Dr. Bawumia for his deafening silence on economic matters since the country’s financial crisis began, noting, “I have never heard him [Dr. Bawumia] speak about the economy since the economy started plummeting.”
“Let us be frank, whenever they have spoken, they’ve attributed our economic woes to Ukraine and Covid-19 but everybody knows that they have mismanaged the economy,” he told host Evans Mensah on Wednesday.
Shifting his focus to Dr. Afriyie Akoto, Prof. Mensah raised concerns about the performance of the Food and Agriculture Ministry under his leadership. He specifically pointed to the “Planting for Food and Jobs” program, describing it as being in a state of disarray. Prof. Mensah criticized the strategies implemented during the minister’s tenure, characterizing them as reactive and insufficient in producing meaningful results.
However, during the show, Sammy Awuku, a former National Organiser of the ruling NPP, strongly disagreed with Prof. Mensah’s characterization of the party’s presidential aspirants. He argued that the NDC had even less promising presidential candidates during their primaries, and yet Prof. Mensah did not make similar statements about them.
In response, Mr. Awuku highlighted the qualifications held by the two NPP contenders and expressed his belief that they would perform effectively if given the opportunity.
The ruling party is gearing up to select its flagbearer this weekend, with delegates tasked with deciding whether Vice President Dr. Afriyie Akoto, Kennedy Agyapong, and Francis Addai-Nimoh will be included on the party’s ticket for the 2024 elections.
Political marketing strategist affiliated with theUniversity of Ghana Business School, Prof. Kobby Mensah,has offered insights into the recent move by former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen to withdraw from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Primaries scheduled for November 4, 2023.
Alan Kyerematen, who secured the third position in the party’s August 26 special delegates conference, cited various reasons for his withdrawal. Among these reasons, he highlighted concerns about the intimidation faced by his agents and alleged that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically biased in favor of a specific aspirant.
Speaking to Kweku Temeng on GHOne’s News Tonight on Tuesday, September 05, 2023, Prof. Mensah expressed concerns about the NPP’s apparent departure from its long-standing emphasis on a collective leadership model. He recalled the days of former President John Agyekum Kufuor when the party championed the idea that “we have the men,” highlighting the NPP’s historical commitment to a collective approach.
“This move by Alan Kyerematen serves as an indictment on the NPP’s internal processes, especially for a party that has historically prided itself on its collective ethos,” noted Prof. Mensah. “Former President Kufuor consistently referred to the party’s collective nature. Unfortunately, it appears that the party is gradually shifting towards a more personality-centered approach.”
Prof. Mensah emphasised the significance of Alan Kyerematen’s withdrawal statement, which points out the alleged favouritism of a particular candidate within the NPP’s internal structures. He had expected that the party would take steps to address the concerns raised by Alan’s campaign team.
“So for me I think that it is not absolutely foreseen, I did not anticipate this coming. Of course, the campaign team had a lot of concerns, which I thought the party was going to deal with especially when they set up a committee to deal with the aftermath of the super delegate elections. Clearly, they were not interested in anything other than Kennedy Agyapong’s outburst against the President and the Vice- President, which was a shame.”
The political marketing strategist alsohighlighted Alan Kyerematen’s consistent stance against what he perceives as intimidation and unfair treatment of his supporters within the NPP. Prof. Mensah noted that Alan has been a vocal advocate for the equitable treatment of his backers and has consistently voiced concerns regarding the treatment of his supporters during party delegate elections.
“Alan Kyerematen’s decision to withdraw represents a principled stance,” emphasised Prof. Mensah. “He has consistently spoken out against perceived mistreatment of his supporters within the party, and this withdrawal underscores his commitment to defending what he believes is right.”
