There was nothing wrong with Akufo-Addo paying traders from own pocket - Dr. Lartey

The 2016 presidential candidate for the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Dr. Henry Lartey, has taken a swipe at those attacking the president following the decision by National Security to evacuate shop owners and traders near his private residence.

He asserted that the continuous stay of the traders and shop owners was a security threat to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Director of Operations for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu has said the decision by the president to compensate the traders from his own pocket was wrong.

Nana Owusu believes it was an irrational decision by the president to pay from his own pocket and has hinted of a possible legal action. But Dr. Henry Lartey says there was nothing irrational about the president’s decision to pay the compensation packages from his own pocket.

The agronomist said, it was a decision the president took and nobody could have stopped him because he felt for the traders.

He made reference to the White House in America and the seat of government for the United Kingdom and quizzed if traders sell near these facilities.

‘’The place has been declared a security zone and so the traders could not have stayed there. Can you go and sell near the White House or the Buckingham Palace? It is not possible. The security force declared the place a security zone and so the traders had to be pushed out and through his [president’s] compassion, he has decided to compensate them from his own pocket. There is nothing wrong with that,’’ he added.