The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has openly acknowledged that he criticised Mahama heavily ahead of the 2016 general elections, but says his current appointment under President John Dramani Mahama is not politically motivated.
In an interview with Channel One TV on Wednesday, July 23, Prof. Gyampo recalled being one of the most vocal opponents of the Mahama administration in the run-up to the 2016 polls. “In the lead-up to the 2016 elections, we were the ones who chased him [President Mahama] out. I was an avowed critic of President Mahama,” he stated.
He added that his public criticisms were widely known and remain accessible online. “I think you are a fair-minded Ghanaian and a fair-minded stakeholder in Ghana’s media landscape, so if I tell you that I was among the loudest critics of President Mahama in the lead-up to the 2016 elections, you will know, and there is documentary proof. The internet doesn’t forget,” he said.
According to Prof. Gyampo, the sharp opposition to Mahama’s leadership back then stemmed from the belief that candidate Nana Akufo-Addo could bring about the transformation Ghanaians hoped for. “We chased him out of office in the hope that former President Akufo-Addo was going to be the messiah,” he noted.
President Mahama appointed Prof. Gyampo as CEO of the Ghana Shippers Authority on January 30, 2025. He succeeded Kwesi Baffour Sarpong, who was appointed during the tenure of former President Akufo-Addo.
While some critics have suggested that his elevation to the position is a form of political reward, Prof. Gyampo strongly rejected that view, asserting his continued objectivity. He insisted that his new role is based on merit and not partisan favour.
Prof. Gyampo’s appointment has stirred mixed reactions, with some praising his deep understanding of governance and shipping industry dynamics, while others remain skeptical given his past political activism. However, the academic-turned-public servant maintains that his focus is on performance, not politics.
