Renowned Ghanaian actor and comedian Clement Bonney, popularly known as Mr Beautiful, has criticised the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stating that their actions have brought embarrassment to their supporters.
Mr Beautiful expressed his dismay, suggesting that if he were in the shoes of fellow actors Kalybos or Agya Koo, who staunchly stood with the NPP, he would feel too ashamed to show his face in public.
He attributed this feeling to what he perceived as the NPP’s failure to fulfil its promises and adequately support those who campaigned for them.
“If I was Kalyboss or Agya Koo, I would cover my head with a scarf ‘mayafi’ because I would be too ashamed to show my face in public.It has been 8 years, what do they have to show for it,” he quizzed during an interview with Nana Yaa Brefo and Isaac Ekow JB on Yen Nsempa, Onua FM, April 26, 2024.
Mr Beautiful acknowledged that although his support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had affected his career, he would make the same choice again without hesitation or regret as it gave others the courage to do same.
He commended individuals, particularly in the Ashanti Region, who had switched their allegiance from the NPP to the NDC, suggesting that they have made the right decision given the current state of the Ghanaian economy.
“In 2016 because of what I did, now major celebrities in the NPP can come out to declare their political affiliation. Everyone was afraid to show their faces or political colours in public, which is unfortunate because everyone belongs to a party and everyone votes. That is why I disclosed the political party I am affiliated with in 2012.
“People criticised me and threatened not to patronise my movies because of this, now all those people who supported that agenda and mindset in Kumasi have migrated to the light. They now see what I saw in His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, he is good nurtured, he thinks of his people he is indeed a human being.
“The persons who have migrated to the NDC have seen the light, and if there was an award to be given, they should dully be awarded for making the right decision because the Ghanaian economy is not looking great nor promising at all,” he said.
He commended the NDC for the achievements made within their tenure, such as building new infrastructure like airports, harbours, schools, and hospitals, with what he saw as a lack of tangible progress under the NPP’s tenure.
“NDC in 4 years built new airports, harbours, more schools and more hospitals were built, but what do the NPP supporters have to show for their toil, when you all went to support President Akufo-Addo and his driver’s mate, Bawumia for 8 years, what do they have to show for it,” he quizzed.