“… so, what Cecilia should have done was what she did… charge any other Minister, and they know themselves because I have got a lot of facts about them and the day will come out with it, they will be shocked…” – Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe Founding Member of NPP
NPP, What is happening? Is anybody in control? If there were any qualities one would cherish about the NPP, one would not discount its openness-no demagoguery. To the members, the party motto sums up their aspirations. “Development in freedom” buoyed by their ideology of “liberal conservatism”
The members tout their Danquah-Busia-Dombo roots, heritage and philosophy, going back to the UGCC formed in Ghanaian 1947.
An internecine battle culminated in an unholy split into PFP (Victor Owusu) and UNC (Pa Willie Ofori Attah) in 1979 thus making it possible for PNP to snatch the diadem. Dr. Limann’s (PNP) lackadaisical attitude towards governance gave room to Jerry John Rawlings to maneuver into power in 1981. Till 1992 when the NPP threw away their selfish interests and rallied around Prof. Adu Boahen (who broke the culture of silence) and contested the “civilianized” Jerry John Rawlings and lost, leading to the writing of the “Stolen Verdict”.
His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor put in his lot and luck smiled on him in 2000. In 2008 His Excellency, Nana Akufo-Adddo threw in his bit, but luck eluded him, (losing to Prof. Evans Atta Mills) and also 2012 (losing to John Dramani Mahama).
In 2016, Nana Addo succeeded in achieving his life-long ambition. In his acceptance speech, he noted: “My predecessor flagbearer said to me after the contest in 1998 that he had to be President first before I become President. Alan, you will follow me: “This is the source of Alan’s “It’s my turn”.
In order to accommodate every Tom, Dick and Harry all the flagbearer hopefuls are in serious campaigning mood. Kennedy Agyapong says; “We will have troubles if we don’t do a clean campaign because I will reply to every claim made against me.
You call yourself a strategist but when we were taking over power the Dollar was 4 cedis; today one Dollar is Twelve cedis… in March, 2022, I had $40m in cedis equivalent, in August, 2022, the value of the 40 million Dollar had dropped to $16m. In a veiled reaction, Kofi Amankwaa Manu, the deputy Defence minister says: “Anybody in politics who says that he uses his own money for campaign is a thief”.
Bawumia adds: “We want a selfless person and not a rich man because you won’t rule the country with your money if you became President. We want someone with ideas”. But what to us is a travesty of democracy is the conference, attended by Bawumia, at which the Ashanti Regional Chairman was openly asking: “Who do you want us to vote for?” “Dr. Alhaji Mahmudu Bawumia” answered a former MP usually called “People’s Mother”. With Wontumi holding the mic, he went round the Council of Elders, Patrons, MPs, MCEs, Polling Station members to ask the same question.
At the end of the day, Wontumi stated: “If the elders and patrons, your MPs and Constituency Chairman and Executives are saying they will vote for Dr. Bawumia, then as the Regional Chairman, whom am I?” “What is this?” you will ask. You are asking again: Have we thrown democracy to the dogs? Is it intimidating politics? Or perhaps when the other Presidential candidates come to the Ashanti Region, the same treatment will be accorded them. How can the Regional Chairman who should support all the 10 candidates alike be seen “openly” singling out one person for support? Is it because Bawumia has been proclaimed the “establishment” candidate…? Don’t get us wrong, we don’t support any particular candidate but let us have a plain playing field.
The argument that it is time for a Northerner to rule Ghana is not backed by Ghana’s political history President. Dr. Hilla Limann (PNC-1979-1981), John Mahama (NDC-2011-2016), Aliu Mahama (NPP) as Vice. What should Gas, Nzemas, Wassaws, Fantes, Ewes say?
Just as a group of us were carousing at a town close to Kumasi, the news hit us: Madam Cecilia (or is it Cecelia) Abena Dapaah has reported a case of two house helps stealing $1million, €300,000, Gh¢350,000 from her bank in her Abelenkape house.
The police have retrieved $45,000 stolen, identified the houses bought with the stolen money Why did Abena Dapaah report the matter to the police. Patriotism? You see how a 17year-old girl (now 18) whom someone wants to help can drill her? In pidgin, one is tempted to say: ‘if thief thiefs thief, God laughs’.
Or was the money funeral donation? Just at that time, one of us saw a message in one of their “platforms”. Cecilia (or Cecelia) has resigned, followed by “the President has accepted her resignation” and the letter read in parts: “… I am confident, like you, that at the end of the day, your integrity once in office, will be fully established…” and NDC is accusing the President of being a “clearing agent” and Martin Amidu will call him “the mother serpent of corruption …”
That is, despite the President’s speech to the Tertiary Students Confederacy Network (TESCON) in Cape Coast in 2015: “… The fight against corruption should start with an incorruptible President… I am not, have never been, and will never be, corrupt…” clap, clap, clap.
Will anybody be wrong to suggest that the President’s men are tired? Don’t mention “reshuffle” because the President may want to go down in history as the only President who never reshuffled his cabinet, and would “sacrifice” over 90 MPs for one person, Ken Ofori Atta. We say “sorry” to a colleague who will switch off his TV set or radio when he sees or hears some Ministers’ face or Mouth.
What did we not say when Okudzeto Ablakwa reported the loss of his GH¢ 25,000 when his driver took has car to Nima Car Wash, and Felix Ofosu Kwakye a “small little character” who served as a deputy Minister accused by JJ Rawlings in one of his June 4th boom speeches of buying two mansions at East Legon for $3 million! Rawlings himself had told the world that he received a “gift” of $3m from Nigeria’s Gen. Sani Abacha, and not $5m! Call it “equalization”.
Do you remember what President J.D. Mahama did in November 2013 when he heard Victoria Hammah say: “I will not quit politics until I make one million dollars”. John Boadu asked for the freezing of her assets-and Mahama sacked her! What did Dr. Mustapha Hamid mean when he said: “The Presidency has been so depraved…” Who is Ghana’s savior? The fiery religious speaker Eastwood Anaba says: “Don’t accumulate wealth while others suffer…” And the President Akufo-Addo said: “Those coming into political office to make money must think again…”
The Office of Special Prosecutor has waded into the Cecilia (Cecelia) Abena Dapaah Saga: investigating corruption and corruption-related offences: Let us hope nothing impugns her. No question on dredging Odaw River for $43 million, even though someone offered to do so free of charge.
And why all these scandals? Reverend Kusi-Boateng as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi: one-person, different mothers, different dates of birth-the case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Won aadepaba a wokye di no… (No need to continue, no need to translate…)
From Africanus Owusu Ansah