To Kwesi Pratt and his newly found friends in the Nefarious and Cancerous contraption, let me remind him that, contrary to his opinion which he attempts to expostulate at any given platform, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is not desperate to be President of this country. He believes that God has a purpose for him and if it is God’s will to make him President, no Tsunami, not even Hurricane Catherina will prevent the Crossing of the Rubicon. If it is God’s will that he does not become President, so be it. After all, he has had a fulfilled life and impacted positively on the lives of Ghanaians.
What at all is the NDC afraid of? Akufo-Addo is not an ‘afraid man’ as Kwesi Pratt and others would want to portray him to those who don’t know him. I was in Kumasi in the late Seventies when Nana linked hands with other patriotic and courageous Ghanaians like Gbedemah, Jantuah, Afrifah, and Armarteifio (Mr. No) at Kejetia to demonstrate against the Union Government Concept and create awareness amongst the people of the dangers inherent in the concept. I saw this patriotic stance by these great and gallant men of history with my own ‘kurokuro’ eyes. Nana did not run away when they came under attack from irate mob set loose on members of the Movement for Freedom and Justice (MFJ). Nana Akufo-Addo spearheaded the ‘Kume Preko” demonstrations. He was in the midst of the demonstrators.
About victims of “Kume Preko” demonstrations, the outgoing NDC regime had destroyed every iota of evidence which could be used against perpetrators of those heinous crimes. With what was he to use to prosecute the criminals? You see, Akufo Addo was conscious of his reputation as Attorney General, unlike the NDC, which, based on hearsay or frivolous allegations, do not carry out in-depth investigations into issues before hauling their political opponents to the courts. That is the reason why they have been losing cases after cases. It has nothing to do with bias on the part of the judiciary.
Akufo Addo did not and has not committed any crime by his “all die be die” comments. But if Mills as President, will condescend so low as to read the Riot Act and tell us that he will not sit down unconcerned whiles others incite the people, he should order the security people to do their work. After all, the NDC is in power. If Mills as President, a self confessed Christian and a devotee of Joshua Temitope and his Synagogue Church of All Nations can look Ghanaians in the eye and tell us that his Government has kept faith with the people and that he has been a true father to all and that no extra judicial killing has taken place under his Government, then I am afraid for the future of this country. Let the President tell us whether indeed the NDC has recruited and is training party members to infiltrate the ranks and file of the security forces to cause mayhem in NPP strongholds during the 2012 Elections. These are our genuine fears. What is the President doing to check the rampant excesses and violence of NDC foot soldiers all over the country?
On violence, I would like to state that the NDC has been the most violent establishment to bestride our political terrain since the creation of the Ghanaian State. Ofosu Ampofo and Haruna Iddrissu could not be sworn in with their colleague NDC National Executives because they were perceived to belong to the then Obed Asamoah faction of the NDC. This was after Frances Essiam had been beating to pulp by Azorka Boys who had also put “the fear of the Lord” into Obed Asamoah, their then National Chairman so much so that he stayed glued to his seat for more than 12 hours and could not even attend to nature’s call.
Now hear Tony Aidoo, a comedian- politician, carved in the mould of Don Quixote with his friend, Chuck Kofi Wayo, warning Brigadier Nunoo Mensah, now National Security Adviser, when the latter returned from exile and declared for NPP. Tony Aidoo, then Deputy Defence Minister stated on air that Nunoo Mensah had just returned from a hole and into that same hole would be chased. It was Tony Aidoo who said that Nunoo Mensah was instrumental in in the execution of the late Okatakyie Akwasi Amankwaa executed because he insisted that Afrifah’s name be put on the list of those to be executed, despite the fact that a Committee had cleared Afrifah of any wrong doing.
If what Tony Aidoo was telling us about his new found friend (Brigadier-General Nunoo Mensa) is true and we now have this man as our National Security Adviser, then, as I have already stated, Ghanaians have no business going to sleep with both eyes closed. His antecedent and mindset is indeed frightening. No wonder, the President, in his State of the Nation’s Address went to the ridiculous extent of putting the Security Forces not only from Green to Amber but to Red Alert! The Security Forces that the President is saying are inefficient and cannot stand on their own against the rag-tag army from Cote d’Ivoire, but now they can be used against ordinary Ghanaians who are expressing concern about grave national issues.
Already Alhaji Bature has stated on air that the NDC has always beaten the NPP when it comes to violence and would continue to beat us. Have you forgotten that NDC foot soldiers took over the Adomi Bridge and started collecting tolls at both sides of the booth? Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Transport took his own people to take over illegally from those who were manning the toll both at Kasoa. During the hullabaloo generated by the illegal activities of Carl Wilson, who at any given opportunity pulled a pistol without let or hindrance, we have not forgotten what one of their Executives, I think it is one Barfuor said. He said if Carl Wilson was not sacked, he would lead the foot soldiers to the Castle. To do what? Take over the Castle, of course!
Let me reiterate for the avoidance of doubt that the “Dzi wo fie Asem” philosophy still persists in the country. Why should our affairs bother members of the Nefarious Contraption? If members of the New Patriotic Party are willing to lay down their lives for our Presidential Candidate, why should it bother our political opponents? We are minding our own business. After all, there are still some Ghanaians who strongly defend the indefensible polices of the moribund Mills administration and are ready to lay down their lives for pittance. We are not mad, but we believe that God has given Nana Akufo Addo as our Moses, our Mandela and our Nkrumah who shall cleanse the Augean stable the NDC will leave behind in 2013.
If the Government of the Nefarious Destructive/Cancerous Contraption will follow the whims and the caprices of the hawks, the scavengers, the vultures, the wolves, the serpents, the rabid dogs and the rattle snakes including the greedy bastards in their midst and plunge the country into chaos by arresting Nana Akufo Addo, it can go ahead and do just that. After all, they are in Government.
When Thomas Jefferson was contesting the Presidency with John Adams, a campaign of calumny was waged against him as members of the Nefarious Destructive and Cancerous Contraption are doing to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. They called Jefferson all sorts of uncharitable names including that of atheist. But history has a way of vindicating the just. He was eventually elected and became one of the best Presidents in the United States.
When Nkrumah started his aggressive campaign against white rule and colonialism, culminating with his Positive Action Declaration, he and other five members of the United Gold Coast Convention were imprisoned and then released. Later, he was arrested again and incarcerated in Prison. The British brought him out of jail to become leader of Government Business.
When Nelson Mandela was carrying out his campaign against apartheid, he was called all kinds of names, - a hater of the white race, atheist, communist and anarchist. Eventually, he was arrested and sent to prison in Robin Island. He was released from prison to become President of a true United South Africa.
This is exactly what they are doing to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. But surely, Nana remains unperturbed and will go about his task of enlivening the lives of average Ghanaians with his far reaching social and economic policies to mitigate their sufferings. Koku Anyidoho, Omane Boamah, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Fiifi Kwetey, Kobby Acheampong, Richard Quarshiga, Elvis Afriyie Ankra, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Anita de Souza, Stan Dogbe, Allotey Jacobs, Asiedu Nketiah, Kwabena Agyei and others can call him all sorts of names by singing a different tune in public whilst at the same time inciting their supporters to lynch NPP supporters/sympathizers in secret. Are these people Christians or Muslims? What about the President and his Vice? Do they know that it is against God’s commandments to deny people justice? What are they doing to address our grievances? What do they have to say about the violence and brutalities being meted against our party men and women? Is the President condoning evil by pretending that the violence being perpetrated against his political opponents does not exist? Is the President now telling Ghanaians that the blood of Issah Mobillah is more precious than those of the four men who were killed in front of the Police Station at Agbogbloshie?
Yesterday after the State of the Nations’ Address, hoodlums from the NDC went and ate the food reserved for invited Guests. The Police allowed the perpetrators to go away, just because they are NDC members. Is this the type of legacy Mills and his Government would like to leave for Ghanaians? If the trend continuous, a time will come when nobody can claim ownership to any property for the country is gradually receding to the State of Nature where live was short, nasty and brutish.
This is a test case for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. But the person who has been blessed by God will always remain blessed. No human being can undo what God wants to use Akufo Addo for. As I have always stated, members of the cancerous contraption should not have the false assumption that because of their power of incumbency, they will always have the upper hand. We live in a wonderful world where anything can happen.
I will urge President Mills to redress our grievances as Diokpa in “King Emene” urged the King to do. “There is a saying that it is the trees that make the forest, and the King (President) of the tree does not grow in the desert. The people are the trees and our King (President) must have the people to be a King (President). And when the very existence of the people is threatened, it is proper that the King (President) as well as his Council (Cabinet) show some concern. But if the King (President), blinded by power and desire for supremacy fails to see the impending disaster, it is morally binding on the people to speak directly with the King (President)”. This is exactly what we are doing.
Amidst the encircling gloom which appears to becloud the fortunes and very existence of the New Patriotic Party, I urge members to take solace in the song: “Courage brother, do not stumble. Though thy path be as dark as night. There’s a star to guide the Humble. Trust in God and do the right. Let the road be rough and dreary; And its end far out of sight. Foot it bravely, strong or weary. Trust in God and do the right”.
The battle cry for the 2012 Election is that All NPP men and women should stand firm and be counted among the brave. You should not run away when confronted by evil, but unite and ask for God’s power to confront evil. God sent Aaron to be Moses spokes-person before Pharaoh. Nana Addo Dankwa is asking patriotic members of our tradition and Ghanaians to be vigilant and protect their vote. Akufo Addo will still be the people’s idol and choice. Our founding fathers were not cowards.
Are you ready and willing to join us in our crusade of embarking on a “cleansing mission” to make Ghana a better and safer country with equal opportunity for everybody through the ballot box? God bless you as you make a wise and informed decision.
Daniel Danquah Damptey (danieldanquah_damptey@yahoo.com)