Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jeremy Corbyn And Other Famous World Leaders Caught Up In Plagiarism Scandals

[caption id="attachment_93033" align="aligncenter" width="770"] President Nana Akufo Addo[/caption] Ghana's President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was caught up in a plagiarism row on the day of his inauguration, with portions of his speech being lifted from addresses by George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and others. This has sparked a furious row between Ghanaians, with some excusing the actions whilst others are intent on giving the President stick for it. The speechwriter has apologised, yet the minority in Parliament says it is a national disgrace which should be expunged from the records of Parliament. In all this, the story has gone international, thus shining a negative light on Ghana out of what should have been a positive story of a peaceful power transition. However, President Akufo-Addo is hardly the first, nor would he be the last, world leader to be accused of plagiarism. Even the biggest names one can think of have all been victims to it before, including Barack Obama, Muhammadu Buhari, Jeremy Corbyn and many others. Below, read the story of several world leaders who were at one time or the other caught up in a plagiarism scandal, starting with our very own new leader. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (President of Ghana) [caption id="attachment_93014" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Nana Akufo Addo[/caption] Nana Akufo-Addo's case occurred during his inauguration. His words..."I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building your communities and our nation." Words accused of plagiarising..."I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building communities of service and a nation of character." (speech by George W. Bush at his inauguration in 2001) His words..."Though our challenges are fearsome, so are our strengths. Ghanaians have been a restless, questing, hopeful people. And we must bring to our task today the vision and will of those who came before us." Words accused of plagiarising..."Though our challenges are fearsome, so are our strengths. And Americans have ever been a restless, questing, hopeful people. We must bring to our task today the vision and will of those who come before us." (speech by Bill Clinton during his inauguration in 1993) Barack Hussein Obama (President of the United States) [caption id="attachment_79181" align="aligncenter" width="770"] President Obama[/caption] Obama's case occurred in 2008, when he was running for President. His words...."Don't tell me words don't matter! 'I have a dream.' Just words. 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words, just speeches." Words accused of plagiarising...."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'- just words. Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself''- just words. 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country' - just words. 'I have a dream' - just words." (2oo6 speech by former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick) Jeremy Corbyn (Leader, Labour Party) Corbyn's speech at the annual Labour Party conference in 2015. His words...."Since the dawn of history in virtually every human society there are some people who are given a great deal and many more people who are given little or nothing. Some people have property and power, class and capital, status and clout which are denied to the many." Words accused of plagiarising..."Since the dawn of history, in virtually every human society there are some people who are given a great deal and many more people who are given little or nothing. Some people have property and power, class and capital, status and even sanctity, which are denied to the multitude." (2011 blog post by Richard Heller, once an adviser to former Labour deputy leader Denis Healey) Melania Trump (Incoming US First Lady) [caption id="attachment_80227" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Melania Trump[/caption] Melania's speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Her words..."My parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise; that you treat people with respect. "[My parents] taught me to show the values and morals in my daily life. That is the lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. And we need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to follow, because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them." Words accused of plagiarising... "And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: That you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them. "And Barack Obama and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generations. Because we want our children, and all children in this nation, to know that the only limit to the height of your achievement is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them." (2008 speech by Michelle Obama) Hery Rajaonarimampianina (President of Madagascar) Rajaonarimampianina's incident occurred at his inauguration in January 2014. His words..."I asked my friends who have accompanied me to let me be free, free to move towards others, those who were never my friends, who never belonged to our camp, our political family, who sometimes fought us. Because when it comes to Madagascar, there are no more camps." Words accused of plagiarising..."I asked my friends who have accompanied me to let me be free, free to move towards others, those who were never my friends, who never belonged to our camp, our political family, who sometimes fought us. Because when it comes to France, there are no more camps." (speech by former French President Nicholas Sarkozy in 2007) Muhammadu Buhari (President of Nigeria) [caption id="attachment_87688" align="aligncenter" width="770"] President Buhari[/caption] Buhari's scandal erupted when speaking during the launch of honesty campaign in September 2016. His words..."We must resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness and immaturity that have poisoned our country for so long." Words accused of plagiarising..."Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.'' (Barack Obama, speech given in 2008) Joe Biden (US Vice President) [caption id="attachment_87071" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Joe biden[/caption] Joe Biden got in trouble whilst running for President in 1987. His words..."Why is it that my wife who is sitting out there in the audience is the first in her family to ever go to college? Is it because our fathers and mothers were not bright? ''Those same people who read poetry and wrote poetry and taught me how to sing verse... Is it because they didn't work hard? My ancestors, who worked in the coal mines of north-east Pennsylvania and would come up after 12 hours and play football for four hours.'' Words accused of plagiarising... "Why is Glenys [Mr Kinnock's wife] the first woman in her family in a thousand generations to be able to get to university? Was it because all our predecessors were thick? "Those people who could sing and play and recite and write poetry? Those people who could make wonderful beautiful things with their hands? Those people who could dream dreams, see visions? Why didn't they get it? Was it because they were weak? Those people who could work eight hours underground and then come up and play football? Weak?" (1986 election campaign commercial by then-UK Labour leader Neil Kinnock)

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jeremy Corbyn And Other Famous World Leaders Caught Up In Plagiarism Scandals

Recent Posts

‘Try Me And You Will See’ – Vim Lady Fires Back At Opambuor

‘It Started After My Performance With Shatta Wale In London – Sista Afia On Her ‘Beef’ With Efia Odo

‘I Filled The Accra Sports Stadium To Capacity, No Artiste In My Class Has Done That’ – Stonebwoy

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jeremy Corbyn And Other Famous World Leaders Caught Up In Plagiarism Scandals

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Recent Posts

‘Try Me And You Will See’ – Vim Lady Fires Back At Opambuor

‘It Started After My Performance With Shatta Wale In London – Sista Afia On Her ‘Beef’ With Efia Odo

‘I Filled The Accra Sports Stadium To Capacity, No Artiste In My Class Has Done That’ – Stonebwoy