Political analyst and Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa has raised concerns over a viral video showing Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, spraying cash on his supporters. Mussa Dankwa suggest that this act poses an early test for President John Dramani Mahama, as similar displays of wealth have led to investigations by the Office of the Special Prosector(OSP) in the past.
In a Facebook post, Mussa Dankwa pointed out the potential cultural context of the gesture, noting that in the Northern Ghana and among Zongo communities, it is common to throw money at drummers as a form of appreciation. However, he cautioned that public officials must do so in a manner that does not create the impression of an opulent lifestyle.
“Mahama has a first test case in his hands as the newly appointed regional minster does what some people did and were hauled to the OSP,” Dankwa noted.
He further questioned how Atanga’s actions would be perceived in comparison to past incidents where parliamentary candidates were reported to the OSP for similar acts. “How differently will people see this from what some of the Parliamentary candidates did amd were reported to the OSP? Be circumspect” he advised.
Mussa Dankwa drew a contrast between Atanga’s gesture and that of Haruna Iddrissu’s, who was recently seen showering small amounts of money on drummers while others did the same for him. According to Dankwa, such acts are clearly cultural, whereas Atanga’s display raises ethical concerns.
The video has sparked debates on social media, with some agreeing that public officials must be mindful of optics, while others argue that cultural traditions should be not be misinterpreted. As the discussions continue, it remains to be seen whether this issue will attract further scrutiny from the Presidency.
