Ghana’s new president caught up in plagiarism row over inauguration speech – VIDEO
Ghana’s new president Nana Akufo-Addo has started his reign under heavy attacks online of possible plagiarism of parts of his inauguration speech.
Hawk eyed netizens have identified stark comparisons in phrases used by the new president and those used in inauguration speeches of two former American presidents.
President Akufo-Addo was sworn in on Saturday at the Independence Square in the capital city Accra.
LIFTED STATEMENTS
But his inauguration speech, widely praised for outlining his agenda to fight corruption and cutting taxes, has been blighted by claims of plagiarisng speeches by Bill Clinton’s 1993 and George Bush’s 2001 inauguration speeches.
A video juxtaposing President Akufo-Addo’s identical remarks to those of President Bush’s has gone viral online.
In his speech, President Bush said: “I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building communities of service and a nation of character.”
President Akufo-Addo said: “I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building your communities and our nation.”
Akufo-Addo also reportedly took a portion from President Clinton’s 1993, speech. “Though our challenges are fearsome, so are our strengths. Americans have ever been a restless, questing, hopeful people. And we must bring to our task today the vision and will of those who came before us,” said Clinton in his speech at the time.
Ghana’s president speech read: “Though our challenges are fearsome, so are our strengths. Ghanaians have ever been a restless, questing, hopeful people. And we must bring to our task today the vision and will of those who came before us.”
APOLOGISED
The Director Of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin has apologised for what he called a complete oversight in the inaugural speech of President Akuffo-Addo.
This is not the first time West African presidents would be accused of plagiarising American presidents’ speeches.
In September 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari came under fire from critics after admitting part of his “Change Begins With Me” speech was copied from US President Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech.
Courtesy Guardian (Nigeria), Joy News
