A Ghanaian businessman and politician Frank Hutchful, popularly known as “Oguaa Okoto,” has criticised the country’s political system, arguing that decades of governance under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have failed to deliver the level of development and economic transformation expected by Ghanaians.
During an exclusive interview with Paa Solo Savvy of News Africa Ghana at the final funeral rites of the late Kantamanto Amoanu XI, Omanhen of the Anomabo Traditional Area, United Party (UP) member Frank Hutchful, expressed concern that rising youth frustration over unemployment, economic hardship and poor infrastructure could one day erupt into widespread resistance against Ghana’s political leadership unless urgent reforms are undertaken.
According to him, Ghana’s democracy has not produced the desired outcomes for ordinary citizens despite nearly five decades of democratic governance. He believes the country’s youth are becoming increasingly frustrated with the political system and warned that continued neglect could one day trigger a mass uprising against the political class.
“The youth are losing hope. If our leaders continue to ignore their concerns, there may come a time when they rise against the political establishment. Democracy has not worked the way Ghanaians expected under both the NDC and the NPP,” he said.
Oguaa Okoto revealed that he was a loyal member of the New Patriotic Party for several years and served as a constituency chairman for approximately 14 years before leaving the party.
He explained that his decision to join the United Party was driven by his conviction that Ghana needs a credible third political force capable of breaking what he described as the long-standing dominance of the NDC and NPP.
“I dedicated 14 years to the NPP, but I have come to realise that Ghana needs a new direction. The United Party is prepared to provide that alternative because the two major political parties have disappointed many Ghanaians,” he stated.
He further argued that although Ghana is richly endowed with minerals and other natural resources, successive governments have failed to utilise modern technology, innovation and industrialisation to fully harness the country’s economic potential.
Commenting on regional development, Oguaa Okoto alleged that the Central Region has not received its fair share of national development despite its strategic political importance.
He claimed that both the NDC and the NPP often concentrate development projects in their traditional strongholds while giving inadequate attention to swing regions such as the Central Region.
According to him, governments tend to prioritise projects in areas where they seek electoral advantage instead of ensuring equitable distribution of national resources across all regions.
He therefore appealed to the government to address what he described as the development deficit in the Central Region, particularly the poor state of road infrastructure.
He specifically called on Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to prioritise road construction and other critical infrastructure projects in the region to stimulate economic growth and improve the livelihoods of residents.
Oguaa Okoto also urged Ghanaians to consider alternative political parties instead of relying solely on the NDC and NPP, insisting that broader political competition could help strengthen democracy and accelerate national development.
His remarks add to the ongoing national conversation about governance, economic challenges and the future direction of Ghana’s democracy ahead of the country’s next electoral cycle.
