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By: FRANK ODEIFOUR ABABIO
I worry in utter dismay, why the ?2008 and 2012 electoral defeats of the NPP is sorely and solely pinned on Nana Addo’s candidacy at the ?silly neglect of other obvious mitigating factors. It is out of sheer folly, that any reasonable being who is not on a psychoactive drug would expect a landslide victory from? a good ?party candidate who suffers profound apathy ?within his party during campaign and on ?voting day. (I say landslide because the election petition? vindicated NPP won in the presidential? election)
Had Nana Addo put up such indifference attitude in the 2000 campaign, NPP may ?not have won in that election. It is needless to remind ourselves, that ,ex president Kuffour ?readily ?won in the 2000 elections as a result of combined favorable circumstances that had little to do with his person. The huge clamor for change of government after 20 years of PNDC/NDC rule;? highly? unflinching support from Nana Akufo-Addo, who at the time pulled crowed to rallies wherever? he made appearances following his charismatic nature ( magic wand that characterizes ?himself and ex president Rawlings); honest commitment of those who managed the ?campaign at the time, (Dan Botwe , Courage Quashigah, and co) as well as the impenetrable unity of purpose, spearheaded by Nana Addo who had successfully? championed electoral reforms ahead of that election, are the factors that won victory for NPP and J. A. Kuffour.
Fourteen years down the lane ?is long but not too long to the extent that these facts be soon forgotten, for some seemingly ?mentally stunted ?elements in the NPP ?to be noising around ?that ?electoral victory depends solely on the presidential candidate, ?in mischievous feign of ignorance, that reasons for electoral victory and defeats are multifactored . ?Is it true or not, that? in 2008, Dr Arthur Kennedy, then a campaign director, granted interviews on air in which he expressed misgivings about some executive actions and? inactions of then president Kuffour,? which he feared portended? potential electoral defeat to the NPP? what has changed, that today,? he thinks the defeat should be wholly attributed to Nana Addo’s? candidacy?
Is it also true or not, that in 2011,on a tape released by a pro-NDC group, Dr Arthur Kennedy was heard telling an assembled group of people that no incumbent party in the fourth republic had lost re-election bid and therefore it would be difficult for NPP to upstage NDC in 2012? So again I ask, what has become of that conviction of his, that today, he squarely places the NPP’s defeat on the door step of Nana Addo?? Arguably, certain pronouncements of Nana Addo were a bit harsh! and so what?? It is only a reflection of the natural fact, that perfection is not a human virtue, and that is why he Arthur Kennedy also, in his human mind, wrote in an article that Murtala ?Muhammed, then deputy minister for information deserved to be punched in the face for suggesting that Dr J.B. Danquah died naturally. That is excusable! it only shows he is human with human qualities, and cannot be ?Jesus Christ.
If ?indeed such ?pronouncements have adverse ?effect on a party’s electoral fortunes in Ghana, ex President Rawlings would never have won ?in a single election in Ghana. With all respect to my admirable honorable Kennedy Agyapong, his constituents would have long? thrown him out of the august house of legislature. ?The honest reality is that, corruption has been the bane of Africa’s development, and so for some of us patriotic Ghanaians, our interest? in the individual who wins the presidency? supersedes the party on whose ticket he comes to power. ?Hence, the usual slogan of? “who can win power for us” highly irritates our ears. The focus should go beyond ?merely winning power, to efficient, selfless and responsible? leadership, in order? that, the suffering masses will not witness worse form of what we see today under president Mahama.
The NPP’s ?concern ?must expectedly be focused? on? scrutinizing the ?candidates who have expressed interest in contesting, and favorably offer Ghanaians? one that can be trusted to offer selfless and patriotic leadership. ??We look for a man who will not superintendent? corruption by his cronies. ?Of what relevance would it be to the proverbial average Ghanaian? if NPP wins power? but under a selfish, corrupt and immoral president who would come and turn the state coffers into a personal gold mine? Who doesn’t know that ?the incorruptible nature ?of Nana Addo is partly what has won him unnecessary inward hatred from? certain “greedy bastards” ?within the NPP.
Surely, were Nana Addo? the president, a certain “founding member”? would not be driving freely on the streets let alone to have the moral courage to be criticizing others, after causing Ghana and the NPP substantial deficit in his handling of VRA and GH@50; an act that profoundly affected the NPP’s electoral fortune.? And yet, he would not bow his head in shame after? his narrow escape from prison following a ridiculous ?procedural error by the then attorney general of this ailing NDC government.
Whiles in? students politics at the University of Ghana, I remained an ?ardent critic of the Kuffour administration. I must repeat on this platform without hesitation, that his indifference ?attitude, and if you like, indirect involvement in corruption is what has fearlessly widened the flood gate to the menace among our public officials. Corruption took ?center hold of that leadership with seeming executive endorsement. .
That was when people who did not sow? when the NPP was cultivating, opportunistically came to reap,? and cruelly ripped the tax payers off their toil; Dr Charles Wereko? Brobey in mind.? ?Late president Mill’s inability to investigate and punish the culprits, is what has emboldened? the Mahama? administration? to be sucking out the tax payers’? money into their private pockets without any sense of pity for the? hungry poor.?? ??I care little how angry any reader of my article feels; I stand to please the truth and not any individual nor group of people.
Today, he Wereko? Brobey ?is tirelessly ?jumping ?to the sky and descending to the depth of hell towards ensuring that, Ghana never gets a progressive president? in the person of Nana Addo.? He rather wishes for a bird of a same feather ?to be in the helm so as to repeat his stock- in- trade. But, ?with the heads, hearts and minds, hands and legs of the suffering masses of Ghana joined? in rhythmic brotherhood?? in? prayer to the GOD of Zion, such evil intent will never see the light of day. Not again!
In fact, it is following? the above unfortunate episode of the time, that, as NUGS president of the university of Ghana secretariat, I organized an award ceremony in which I awarded Hon. P.C. Appiah Offori ?and Mr. ?Kwesi? Pratt Jnr. for their courageous criticism and campaign against ?corruption, and my subsequent? admiration? of ?late professor Mills for his incorruptible nature.? It is in this same spirit that I wholeheartedly pray to our FATHER who art in heaven, to put Nana Addo on the seat for the sake of mother Ghana and her suffering masses!
And, alas, Dr Apraku! “You too Brutus”, What an agonizing? betrayal of long held trust?
Sarcastically, he believes he, and not Nana Addo can wrestle power from the NDC? On any day, discerning Ghanaians will prefer a bold man who makes courageous and inspiring pronouncements against potential electoral? fraud, to a party big wig who is notoriously? gifted at camping pretty? university girls in hotels to quench his sexual libido on crucial campaign days, and flying them? overseas prior to elections, all with campaign funds under is charge.? I needlessly remind Dr Apraku that, Nana Addo’s? ridiculously small margin defeat? in 2008,partly, was the dividends of? his? ‘loyal stewardship’? to Nana Addo.? It is an indelible embarrassment you have caused yourself!? From? Shakespearean play Julius Caesar, I have learnt that the themes? of friendship and loyalty is very delicate and manipulative ?elements, and in this circumstance, Dr Apraku and Nana Addo? as Brutus and Caesar respectively, afford English literature students the opportunity to do a comparison study. ?I recommend Dr Apraku to read Exodus 23:7 and relate it to the betrayal of Caesar by Brutus.
It is imperative, that in our quest for power, we should be guided by moral conscience; you can contest in the primaries ?in a healthy manner, devoid of disparaging insinuations born out of sheer mischief. When you do that, some of us who are privileged ?to know ?the? admiring attributes? of Nana Addo closely, and realize the lies you are spewing around, will come out and tell the world ?what we know about you. After all, some others have reared their heads to contest Nana Addo, and are demonstrating political and behavioral maturity in their effort.
The fact remains, that, it is either Nana Addo comes to clean the rots, or the NDC remains in office and perpetuates the secondary school? kind of administration they are showcasing now. In which case, Ghana will be destroyed beyond repairs, given? ?what I witnessed in my recent visit to Ghana? early ?this year.
A situation where a poor civil servant works for over two years without pay, and finally when they are assured that they would be paid, a life threatening announcement follows, that only the last three months salary would be paid, and the rest is forfeited because government? does not have money. When in our political history does this nonsense trace its antecedent? Not even the provision store owner? called “Ohia S3i Abrantie” in my holly village Asiakwa, will dare relay such traumatic message to his errand boys.
Ending my piece, I call on NPP delegates to, in the impending elections, vote against Mr. Jake Obetsebi? ?Lamptey ?whose wanton ?loot ?of state properties and subsequent litigation over government bungalows angered? significant number of? electorates in the GA constituencies. ?A situation that as well ?greatly affected NPP’s electoral fortune. ?Ghana needs? leaders who demonstrate? sincere commitment? in the fight against poverty, and not those who ignore the suffering masses and focus their attention on increasing their wealth.? On a serious note, NPP? delegates should as well be wary of any candidate who is endorsed ?by Kwadwo? Okyere Mpianim.? I hope you don’t? ask me why? Let us learn to be patriotic enough to place the interest of Ghana ?ahead of our selfish inclinations whenever we are given the chance.
FRANK ODEIFOUR ABABIO,
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY,BOSTON. MA, USA
