“You crawled out from a tiny egg with a great appetite. You ate and ate so many leaves until you could not bite. You hung down from a little branch and formed a chrysalis to grow. You evolved into a butterfly. I hate to let you go”. Rebecca Dileo
Déjà vu (seen before); dejavecu (already lived) are fundamental facts we encounter in politics. When all the ten NPP aspirants preached “change: we asked: “Change” from what “change” from what? Was it “change” from 2016 (NDC) or “change” from 2019 (NPP).
It started from Nkrumah breaking from the United Gold Coast Convention to Convention People’s Party. We were not too young when the UP split into Popular Front Party and United National Convention and we became pawns in the hands of Victor Owusu and Willam Ofori Atta in 1979.
Foolish pride and obviously Hilla Limann an unknown material slid through and J.J Rawlings (who had refused to leave the country after a hefty handshake struck again on December 31, 1981.
He dribbled all of us until circumstances forced him to prepare the 1992 Constitution (granting the presidency so much authority). JJ (Let the blood flow) ruled from 1981 to 1999, when his two four-year terms ended.
Getting to the end of the 2008, there were a lot of rumblings and the 17 NPP political aspirants preached continuity (of the Kufour magic). Some people broke from NPP to form the UGM (Wereko Brobbey). The NDC were having their own worries – as JJ’s wife Kondau Agyemang Rawlings broke from NDC to form her own party.
The UPists seemed to have learnt their lesson and came together to form NPP, winning the 2000 election and later, 2016.
All persons belonging to NPP played a role in the success of the 2016 election – assistance to those in need from profits skimmed from government contracts; others had little or nothing to spare yet 10 heavyweights stuck their necks out in a special voting… to reduce the number to five.
The results were as some people predicted: Mahamudu Bawumia (the candidate of the Establishment) Kennedy Agyapong (the no-nonsense man), Alan Kyerematen and fourth and fifth.
Alan Kyerematen said farewell to NPP and said he would offer” a third force” that would break the duo poly of NPP and NDC. His would be a “movement for change.” Kyerematen had been a founding member of the NPP. He had been Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S.A during Kufour’s term and later the Minister of Trade.
He popularized the “Friday Wear”. The proponents of democracy did not appear to let democracy work and the playing field appeared not to be fair. Alan charges and says further that the party has been hijacked by “a selected group of party leaders and elders, government appointees, behind the certain power brokers and some unscrupulous party apparatchiks.”
In the July-August-September 2023 edition of “The Africa Report are few lines on “Otchere-Darko – Fingers in many pies” “Gabby Otchere-Darko, former speechwriter for President Nana Akufo Addo and key adviser for the New Patriotic Party, is a pivotal figure in Ghanaian politics.
As the founder of Asase Radio and Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates, he actively contributes to the media and legal sectors. Drawing from his grandfather J.B. Danquah’s political legacy, Otchere-Darko shapes policy particularly in collaboration with Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, his close friend and cousin.
Dubbed “Ghana de facto prime minister” by political opponents for his influence and access to power, Otchere-Darko is also known for securing the finances of the ruling party.”
In the good old days, Otchere-Darko and us would share thoughts on the President’s speech. Who or what are we now? Nobody, nothing! We were mates at the Ghana School of Law. So he knows us personal. So does the Roads Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta… too many of men.
And it’s too early to forget Osafo Maafo berating Asantes for doing nothing while other Gold Coasters were struggling for independence (His pardon is yet to be accepted by the generality of Asantes).
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made a historic journey to Kyebi, … One could hear ‘Yabre ama mmmoaadi” (We have toiled for striders to enjoy).
The president has often denied having his choice among the presidential aspirants. Good, but what was Wontumi doing asking Elders, Ministers, people’s mother (Elizabeth Agyemang) whom they would vote for at a conference? Are we children?
But the big question to ask “why could not the party elders resolve the crisis? We are not blaming anybody. We are only alerting people (NPP members) to follow democratic principles.
It is a fallacy to say it is the turn of Dombo’s representative after JB Danquah (Nana Akufo Addo), Busia (Kufour) had had their turns. How old is Ghana’s political history? There could come a time when eight Northerners could vie for the presidency. Do we give consideration to Gas, Fantes, Ewes, Sefwis…?
So, we don’t see anything wrong for two Northerners contesting the presidency. So long as people will votes for them so be it. But don’t tamper with the democratic process.
Alan should also be told that one doesn’t show his Ghanaianess only by becoming President. We cannot all be Presidents. Democracy entails “give-and-take.” Once you choose the line of democracy, you have to abide by all the rules that go with them.
Kufour was not successful, only because he was Kufour. He was ably assisted by Kwadwo Mpiania, a stalwart at the state and would not allow any nonsense slip by and “disturb” the President.
Frema Opare is not like Lady Macbeth who would praise (King) Macbeth’, Hail King that shall be…. “What thou art promised yet do l fear thy nature; it is too full of the milk of human kindness. To catch the nearest way; though wouldst be great: ask not without ambition.”
Now, Kwadwo Mpiani reminds us of the effect of the sacking of Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyapong, Sammy Crabbe and with these gentlemen out of the way, the way is now free for all kinds of manipulation.
And what did Ken Agyapong mean when he said in Twi:
“I’ll give Akufo Addo and Bawumia showdown because you have chased my agent and he had gone to hide in his house…”?
Speech is sliver, silence is golden, [means] people should be careful of the words they use. Wontumi can instruct his constituents to remove Alan’s pictures – for after all, he is no longer a party member, but he should be careful of throwing tantrums at Alan who has played a great part as a loyalist.
He has now quit NPP – period. No need to make future negotiations difficult. Alan resignation has very wide repercussion than some simpletons think. Does he not have a family, friends, sympathizers, lovers.
If Adwoa Sarfo can be pardoned, what can’t be done in Alan’s case?
Chairman Ntim says “Adwoa Sarfo apology is in order. I really support her objective because she knows the NPP is the only party she belongs to. So, she is doing what is expected of her, I mean, the apology and that…” Akyea naemmui!
Email: africanusoa@gmail.com
By Africanus Owusu-Ansah