Nana Addo Uses & Dumps Followers

…..And Bawumiah Takes Over

“How real is the old adage; “Character is like a pregnancy which cannot be hidden”?

After following him on unsuccessful three years’ re-election campaign plus eight months fruitless petition at the Supreme Court, the estimated five million supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been treated with disdain by their leader and otherwise hero, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as he left then in rapt suspense: They feel used and dumped.

  Nana Akufo-Addo, the second-time-defeated 2012 flagbearer of the NPP, having packed bags and baggage with wife, Becky in the hind-trolley the evening of Sunday September 15 2013, flew out to Europe with an excuse of going to rest, leaving his broken-hearted supporters to mind their own lost.

The former Akyem Abuakwa Member of Parliament (MP), regarded by his critics as arrogant and pompous, only instructed his 2012 running-mate and former banker, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumiah, to carry on with a colourless “Nationwide Thank You Tour”, as if to spite the rest in the face.

Shortly before his enplanement on Sunday, Akufo-Addo told supporters at a hurriedly-organized event in Accra that he had delegated Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, his Vice Presidential candidate in the 2012 elections and Second Petitioner in the just-ended 2012 Election Petition, to represent him. 

Dr. Bawumiah is largely regarded by some people in the party as an outsider.

Whilst a school of thought in the NPP opines that Nana is giving his running-mate the chance to test his popularity ahead of the 2016 flagbearers primaries in the NPP, others think he is being an ingrate for sending Bawumiah to thank the party supporters when he (Akufo Addo) had been their candidate they voted for.

 At the event, Nana Akufo-Addo thanked executives and sympathizers of the party in the Greater Accra region for their support in the 2012 elections and subsequently, the Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court.

He also thanked them for supporting the party's parliamentary candidates during the December polls and announced his decision to take a trip to Europe to have a rest. The question is: where do followers too go for rest?

The event was disclosed as the first in a series of 'Thank You meetings' which has been put together by the party to thank its core supporters in all ten regions of the country for their various roles during the 2012 electioneering campaign, the election petition hearing and for their support and prayers in general.

He noted that although the NPP disagreed with the Supreme Court verdict, he and the party accepted it in the interest of the nation and peace, explaining that the decision not to seek a review was due to same.

“The other important thing remaining after thanking the Lord is to thank...the over 5 million Ghanaians who voted for us, at least according to the declaration of the EC [Electoral Commission]", he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo stated that since the 2012 Election was over, it was now necessary to look ahead to the next elections and for the party to ensure that it meets all the conditions for victory.

He appealed for unity in the party and urged the party to ensure that as it conducts the various internal elections, the party is not torn apart.

“Let’s remember that at all times, we are brothers in a common cause. So I appeal that in going about our various internal elections, we do so in decorum. The hard contests are not with ourselves. Unity is critical”, he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the NPP had the best message in the country’s political landscape.

He noted that the hard work that needed to be done was getting those who did not vote for the NPP to understand the message of the NPP which includes economic transformation, the access to free, quality education, strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the message of good governance.

The 2012 NPP Presidential candidate said that the NPP and the tradition it comes from is not a tradition where dictatorial tendencies can survive because of the vibrant internal democracy that exists in the party.

“This party has never been about the cult of personalities. Since 1992, we have had three Presidential candidates, Prof. Adu – Boahen, John Agyekum Kufuor and myself; each one has been elected by democratic means and whoever would be elected for 2016 will be elected by democratic means. Therefore, those talking about people trying to impose me on the party, don’t know the party. Maybe they are talking about a different party”, he noted.

He urged the party to do everything to ensure that because of the strength of the NPP’s message, the unity of the party and the organization to be put in place, the NPP is able to secure victory in 2016.

“What I would like to say, however, is that, for me, the welfare and progress of the NPP is the important thing on my heart. As I have said, I am going away for some time to reflect and see what way forward our maker has for me. But in my absence I have asked, Dr. Bawumia to accompany the National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey to the regions to express my gratitude to all in like manner. Forgive me if you don’t hear my voice in your regions but know that my heart will be there”, he added.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by his office said the former Attorney General is expected to announce his political future upon his return home.

The statement, signed by his Aide, Herbert Krapa, said: “Nana Akufo-Addo wishes to use this opportunity to call on his party, the NPP, to be united and strong for the battle ahead, as he remains convinced that Ghana's progress and the Ghanaian people's prosperity depends largely on an NPP government”. 

The statement said the former Attorney General “also requests his supporters and sympathisers to remember him in their prayers” as he takes a "political time out". 

He said: "the battle continues to be the Lord's".

Nana Akufo-Addo announced that he was taking a short break from politics after Ghana's Supreme Court upheld President John Mahama's election in its final verdict on the election petition case filed by the 2012 NPP flagbearer, his running-mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and party Chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.

He has since been inundated with calls from party leaders and supporters to have a third try at the presidency on the ticket of the NPP as flagbearer.

The lobbying, started by the Party's General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, sparked a debate about the propriety and timing of such calls.

Dr. Anane: I'm under pressure to contest NPP flagbearership

The former Health Minister under the Kufuor administration, Dr. Richard Anane has told Radio XYZ that he is inundated with calls from supporters within the main opposition NPP to run for President.

Even though Dr. Anane did not state emphatically if he was interested in running for the Presidency, he told XYZ Breakfast Show host Moro Awudu on Monday that there is pressure on him to do so.

He however said he wouldn’t rule out the possibility to contest for the flagbearership slot when the time comes.

“You can even see a call on my phone now and they are all people talking to me on this matter” Dr. Anane said

He added that “I have been in this party as a student way back in 1979, I have worked with groups in this party till now, and I think I know my party and I believe that at the appropriate time whatever area I have to serve I will do”.

Several executives of the NPP have already declared their support for the twice defeated Presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is on a political break.

The party executives are calling on the leadership of the party to allow Nana Addo to lead the party for a third time ahead of the 2016 elections.

Source: RadioXYZonline.com

Refrigeration Assembly Plant in Ghana soon

Dr Bernice Heloo, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), on Monday said government was in the process of developing a business plan for the establishment of a refrigeration plant. The plant would put together ozone friendly refrigerators to help reduce chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are released into the atmosphere. Dr Heloo said this at the celebration of this year’s World Ozone Day.The celebration provides an opportunity for individuals worldwide to reflect on the progress that has been made with regards to the protection of the ozone layer. The day also serves as a reminder to decision makers and the public on the need to protect the Ozone layer that serves as a shield and safeguards the earth and the lives of humans. The theme for this year’s celebration is “A healthy atmosphere, the future we want.” The Deputy Minister explained that government had also started a rebate system where people could trade their old refrigerators for new ones at designated places and noted that a Ghanaian Waste Company, City Waste Recycling was helping to harvest gases from the old refrigerators before they were dismantled to prevent the releases of poisonous gases into the atmosphere. “Over the years the use of some chemicals has greatly affected the ozone layer which acts as a protective shield in controlling the harmful effects of ultraviolet B radiation (Uv-B) from the sun from reaching the earth. Some of these chemicals include CFCs and many others,” she said. Dr Heloo said in view of the fact that most developing countries like Ghana  that were signatories to the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol against the depletion of the Ozone layer were neither manufactures nor producers of CFCs,  there was the need to phase out of the use of CFC products. The Minister added that dealers in second –hand refrigerators had understood and agreed to co-operate with government in the assembling of the plant. She said over 600 refrigeration technicians and engineers had been introduced to hydrocarbon refrigeration technology which was a win-win option for both the ozone layer and the global climate. Dr Heloo said officials from Customs, Excise and Preventive Service had been capacitated through a number of training programmes to enable them step up their monitoring role in tracking illegal importation of ozone depleting substances into the country. Mr Samuel Anku, Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA)said the Montreal protocol had been beneficial and had delivered substantial climate benefit, adding that the reduction in ozone depleting substances between 1990 and 2000 yielded a net integrated reduction of approximately 25 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide “These significant reductions make the Montreal Protocol one of the prime global contributors in the fight against global warming,” he said. He however said key questions also remained on how to deal in an environmentally sensitive manner the large banks of ozone depleting substances currently used in various systems. Mr Emmanuel Osae Quansah, Deputy Director at the EPA, briefed the media on the effects of Uv-B radiation and said the substance could suppress the immune system and that a variety of plants such as rice, maize among other were sensitive to the substances. The EPA will also organize forum with selected fishing communities and women’s group, hold radio and TV talk shows as well as launch a booklet titled “20 Years of Active Participation in a Worthy Global Effort to create awareness of the Ozone layer.

President Mahama:"Prioritise anti-corruption campaigns"

President John Dramani Mahama on Monday called on African countries to prioritise anti-corruption campaigns by initiating useful measures that would stem the practice on the continent.    He said: "Corruption knows no borders and it is therefore imperative for the adoption of internal and international measures to fight the practice. This we can also do by strengthening various institutions to deal with it."    President Mahama said this when he addressed the African Association Authorities Conference (AAACA) in Accra.    The conference, which is the second after the one Bujumbura, Burundi in 2011 attracted participants from all the 53 member countries and beyond.    The two-day international conference would also afford the participants the opportunity to share experiences and the measures countries had embarked on to fight corruption.     President Mahama explained that the strengthening of institutions could empower anti-corruption organizations to take up effective responsibilities to change the trend in the coming years.    He said Ghana had already embarked on the strengthening of institutions by providing legal framework to the passage of the Public Procurement Act, Anti-Money laundering Act, Whistle Blowers Act, while Cabinet had also approved the Code of Conduct bill for public officials.    The President said government would soon hold a National Constitutional Conference which would among other things empower anti-corruption institutions, empower Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to enforce some of their laws on corrupt persons.    He said the conference would also aptly regulate a regime of gifts to public officials and provide a good foundation for a legal framework.    President Mahama said apart from coming out with the legal framework, the government had also developed a national anti-corruption action plan that had enabled the country to sign all the international protocols and conventions that would empower government to mete out appropriate punishments to corrupt persons.    The President said the institution of the Sole Commissioner to adjudicate judgement debts was another means government had adopted to fight corruption and appealed to those who have inputs to avail themselves for the smooth fight against the practice.    President Mahama promised that his administration would closely work with other countries and anti-corruption bodies to reduce or completely eliminate the canker in the coming years.    Dr Jean Baptiste Elias, President of the Interim Steering Committee of the AAACA, said corruption was taking a toll on the entire world, particularly in the last decade, where the practice assumed an alarming status.    To deal with it therefore, he appealed to all member states to sign on to the conventions and protocols that would empower them to effectively fight it.    He said although 53 member states had signed on various conventions,  20 were yet to ratify those protocols and conventions and appealed to them to institute national anti-corruption structures that would help them to compare notes with other member countries at the various regional conferences.    Dr Elias commended the government and people of Ghana for their special interest in anti- corruption programmes in the country and beyond.     GNA

Nana Akufo-Addo Embarking On Thank You Tours?

Ask Nana Akua Tweneboah-Koduah

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the NPP’s bitterest defeated ex-flagbearer for the 2012 Presidential Election has started a “Thank You” tour of the 10 regions of the country.

Nana Akufo-Addo is going on this tour because there have been severe wrangling in the NPP concerning who to lead the party in 2016 following the declaration and confirmation by the Supreme Court (SC) that President John Mahama was duly and validly elected in the 2012 Presidential Election.

One wonders why Nana Akufo-Addo will embark on such a tour when he told Ghanaians that he was taking a break in politics on the same day that the SC dismissed his slapdash petition case on all the six pleadings. In case you may have forgotten it is this same Nana Akufo-Addo who told the Central Regional delegation of the NPP last week that he was even cutting out of the country for one month to rest and consult with his God, so why this sudden U-turn to embark on a thank you tour?

By the way, who is Akufo-Addo going to thank? Is it the 5 million supporters who voted for him to lose the 2012 Presidential Election? Does Akufo-Addo believe in those supporters? Or Akufo-Addo is embarking on the tour to thank the Supreme Court?

Nana Akufo-Addo rejected the results declared by the Electoral Commission and went to the Supreme Court. For eight months he kept the whole country under shrouds only for his terrible case to be thrown out on August 29, 2013.  He did not believe in the votes cast by his supporters that was why Akufo-Addo did his own arithmetic on the election results and went to court believing that he was going to become president through the back door.

Therefore, with the issue finally settled by the SC, who is Nana Addo going to thank? Is it those who voted for him or those who did not vote for him or the members of the SC?

Normally people go on thank you tours when they have won something. It is highly odd and unusual for a losing candidate in a major election to embark on a thank you tour. Is Akufo-Addo going to thank his supporters for helping him run a bad political campaign which eventually led to his defeat? Or is he going to thank them for swallowing his lies and deception during SC petition case?

It is strongly believed that Nana Akufo-Addo is being goaded on by some of his supporters in the top hierarchy of the NPP to use the tour to test his popularity and ability and also silence the dissenting voices in the NPP which have become much more pronounced in recent times.

Nana Akufo-Addo still harbours the false impression that he will one day become president of Ghana that is why he is still talking about his one-dimensional free Senior High School education which did not fly with voters who saw it as a political gimmick to deceive them for their votes.

Indeed Akufo-Addo’s refusal to go away from the political turf is going to divide the NPP and what we are currently seeing in the NPP is just the least of their problems. Because if Akufo-Addo, who still commands a sizeable following of the NPP delegates decides to run again for the 2016 election, the NPP will split into two. Just watch my lips, “If Akufo-Addo decides to run in 2016, the NPP will split into two.”

Nana Akufo-Addo is a political spent force. He has no new ideas for the NPP or Ghana but because he still harbours deep hatred for the Ashanti faction within the NPP who did little to get him elected, Nana Akufo-Addo has decided to draw rings around the NPP by staying around and shinning his eyes on everything that goes on in the party.

To say the least, this strange thank you tour by Nana Akufo-Addo is needless and a waste of time. It is rather going to hype tensions in the NPP which is sharply divided and is struggling to find the soul of the party which is currently missing.

The battle to win the heart and soul of the NPP has just begun. We live to see!

nakuakoduah@yahoo.com

Editorial

A VIEW BACK INTO LITERATURE

The Republic desktop dictionary defines literature as: “Written works with artistic value”. Written works, it says include, fiction, poetry, drama and criticism that are recognized as having important or permanent artistic value.

Literature has been used since the beginning of global enlightenment and world civilization. Indeed, from archeology to zoology (A-Z), the literature pieces were used to engender the commonsense nature and its capability to create a world of peace, a world of bountiful and world of security for all God’s creation.

When in the ancient times, the literature were used to educate the living on natures dos and don’ts, the modern world is using the same literature today for self-destruction. The reason why one must pity the current generation is also that all the mentors are no longer around and none was able to inherit their natural legacies that had helped turn the then infant world around.

Sometime literature expedition with its attendant enlightening experience would remind us of the contemporaries of William Shakespeares; Geoffrey Chaucers; John Donne; John Dryden; Jonathan Swift, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and others, who used the literature to persistently educate the emerging England society – in all the Great Britain’s facet of life – in their collective effort of creating just and peaceful world for themselves and posterity.

The Republic is saying all these because, it thinks adopting the right literature path today the current world could sigh at peace with itself.

But who are those to champion the holy crusade and how? The aforementioned literature greats had successfully straightened their society from it’s perishing path, through gatherings and cells where educative poetic dramas were staged; where live stage dramas were performed for the vivid understanding of the then not-so-much-educated society.

Today the well-advanced modern society couldn’t make any meaningful use for the vast opportunity and logistic endowment all around it.

To cut a long story short, this paper has realized recently with dismay that, even the local film and theater stakeholders find it very difficult to hire good editors and hot-on-the-job interpreters, which leaves many literature students and lay viewer and listener in the dark.

In most of the films we watch on the screens, the Africanism in particular has always almost been subjugated by the western cultures; thus making Africa, the first and foremost continent a chorus singer to the western vocalists.

Today by going western all African lifestyle have been westernized including its faith. The continent does nothing for itself, if not western approved: even how to ‘sleep with one’s spouse need to be copied from the west.

And the injurious part of it all was when the continent’s children start behaving the alien way with the wide mouth remaining dips on the continent for hope.

However; the Republic could only end this piece by asking, like an age-old Nigerian novelist, poet, lecturer and playwright thus: Has African A God?

....And Asa B Smells Rat

Former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng is questioning the credibility of NPP's national executives to lead the process of electing new executives and a presidential candidate for the next elections.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng has formally filed a complaint with the party’s national council of elders about the conduct of some national executives he accuses of bias.

He cited in particular the open declaration of support for Nana Akufo-Addo’s candidature for the 2016 elections by the party’s General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.

He insisted that there were questions about whether party Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey as well as some regional executives can be trusted to conduct free and fair intra party elections.

He believes their open support for Nana Akufo-Addo "may influence and intimidate" others who want to contest for positions in the party.

He called on party executives to consult with the grassroots of the party when taking decision for the party.

The former MP for Mfantseman West also counseled them to calm down to allow the structures set up by the party to work.

"The vehicle is for all of us, as a party, not a few who want to win an election and because of that they will sidetrack the process of election."

Mr. Asamoah Boateng is, therefore, calling on the party’s elders to intervene to restore order in the NPP.

A former National Chairman of the NPP, Harona Esseku explained to Joy News the processes one needs to go through to become a presidential candidate of the party.

He stated that the constitution of the party is clear that no one can be imposed on the party; in that sense, anyone who wants to lead the party, whether he or she has occupied that position before, must first pick and submit nomination forms.

He, however, acknowledged that former President Kufuor was returned unopposed as the party's presidential candidate in 2004 because after closure of nomination he was the only one who had duly filed his papers.

Chelsea must 'go back to the drawing board', says Mikel

The defensive midfielder feels that his side must do a better job of taking advantage of their chances in possession after a 1-0 defeat away at Everton on Saturday

John Obi Mikel believes that Chelsea must "go back to the drawing board" after losing 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho's side suffered their first defeat of the new Premier League season as a Steven Naismith header on the stroke of half-time proved the difference between the teams on Merseyside.

But, after seeing the likes of Samuel Eto'o and Andre Schurrle spurn glorious chances to equalise in the second half, Mikel has called for his team-mates to be more ruthless in front of goal.
"We all know how difficult it is to come to Everton," he told the press. "The fans make it so difficult for you, the players make it so difficult for you.

"We knew if we had those chances early on in the game like we did and after that at the end of the game to equalise, we have just got to put the ball away and score.

"They know how to play, they like to play. Before this game, I think, they came into this game having had the most possession in the league so far.

"[Against Everton] we had more possession than them. We just got to score to finish the possession and the creativity we had.

"I think that is something that we have got to do in training and go back to the drawing board and work hard on it."

2014 World Cup Qualifier: Today is D-Day!!!

All eyes on Cairo for the African World Cup play-offs draw
Eight African football sides who have been to FIFA World Cup finals before (Algeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia will discover Monday which country they must defeat to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The eight plus Burkina Faso and Ethiopia (two side never to have reach World Cup finals) are in the draw for a 2 leg play-off. A noon ceremony at the Cairo headquarters of the Confederation of African Football will create five two-leg ties between 5 highest ranked teams and the remaining 5 sides.

The Draw ceremony will be attended by FIFA Vice President who is also the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Issa Hayatou, FIFA Director of Competitions, Mustapha Fahmy. The Angolan Ambassador in Egypt will also attend as will the national football team coaches of Egypt (Bob Bradley) and Burkina Faso (Paul Put).

Gordon Savic, Head of FIFA World Cup & Olympic Qualifiers Competitions, will conduct the draw with the assistance of CAF Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani.

The draw will take place at 12h00 (Cairo time) 10h00 GMT will be shown live on SkyNews Arabia, Al Jazeera, and on both FIFA and CAF YouTube channels.

There will also be a draw for each match to determine which team plays host first. The home and away play-off matches to find the five (5) African representatives at the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 will be played during: 11-15 October 2013: 1st leg and 15-19 November 2013: 2nd leg.

Source: CAF

Leila brands Frank Artus as ‘worst actor in Ghana’

Award-winning movie director and producer Leila Djansi is generating storm via social networking site Facebook.

Leila stated on her Facebook wall that actor Frank Artus is one of the worst things that happened to the movie sector and asked that he quit acting to secure another job or go back to school; an update many have harmonized to inform of response gathered.

Leila advised the actor to do an introspection of himself since his place shall soon be taken.

“There are some Ghana actors who should not be acting. Tomorrow, I might name some. But seriously, anyone who loves the actor Frank Astus (meant Artus) should tell him to get another job. This is not fair. Some people try way too hard at it”,Leila said on Facebook.

Do you think that Leila is getting too personal or is she simply hitting the nail on the head?
Source: AVA

Chiefs back Kufuor’s “second chamber” suggestion

The National House of Chiefs is backing calls by former President Kufuor for the establishment of a second chamber of Parliament.

The former president has said a second chamber, made up of equal representation of regions and major identifiable groups, will put a check on the lower chamber of MPs.

This, Mr. Kufuor believes, will help reduce the winner-takes-all tendencies and the over politicization of national issues.

Speaking to XYZ News, Vice President of the National House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu, said the second chamber will also enable chiefs and other opinion leaders contribute more to national development.

“The chieftaincy institution is a very important one, being the mediator between the people and government, so a second chamber would allow them to be more effective in meeting the needs of their people.

"We have a lot of scholars who are chiefs in this country, gone were the days when the chiefs were uneducated,” he argued.

Meanwhile, a former member of the Council of State, Reverend Amo Darko is calling for a broader consultation on the matter.

Source: radioxyzonline.com

Ghana bags GH¢221,020 from Zambia game

Footy-ghana.com understands that the 2014 World Cup qualifier between Ghana and Zambia grossed a total of GH¢221,020 ($110,000) from ticket sales.
According to our sources, the income generated came from the sale of 33,000 tickets.
Footy-ghana.com understands that an extra 5000 tickets were given free of charge to the various supporters groups who attended the match last Friday. According to footy-ghana.com checks, the previous home game between Ghana and Sudan grossed a total of GH¢217,000.

Source: footy-ghana

Don’t air your dirty laundry

Ayariga Jabs NPP

The 2012 presidential candidate for the People’s National Convention, (PNC) Hassan Ayariga, has criticized the leadership of the New Patriotic Party,(NPP)  for the highly publicized disunity and disconnect within the party, after the verdict of the supreme court.

 

Various leading members of the NPP have expressed conflicting views on whether Nana Addo Akufo Addo should be retained for the 2016 presidential elections.

 

The NPP flagbearer himself has requested a break to decide on which path to take, with regard to his political career.

 

However, Mr. Ayariga has said the internal wrangling of the party must be dealt with privately rather than publicly.

 

He said “I think there is an internal problem within the NPP and they need to sit down to make the right decisions. Public discussions will not bring change to the party. We have a duty to this country and that is to maintain peace”.

 

Mr. Ayariga said it was time to move on from the election petition saga and focus on pertinent issues that affect the country.

 

 He appealed to the media to shift its attention to developmental issues that could affect some change.

 

“Let us not play politics with our country. We must be seen to promote issue that will seek out solutions.  The government should be seen to work for the interest of the citizens; employ competent people not just because they may be members of the one political party or the other,” he added.

Source: Ghana | RadioXYZonline.com

So, Afari Gyan resigns and the NPP benefits?

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Friends, at this juncture in our national politics, the chips have fallen in place, but the defeated NPP cabal doesn’t seem to know that reality and is still up and about, raising dust for nothing.

We have heard all the ugly noise that has characterized their dissension against the Supreme Court’s ruling. Unfortunately for them, there is no magic or witchery that can overturn what has been electorally and legally (not to say constitutionally) mandated against their aspirations. Their horses ran out of their stables long ago, and all that they are doing now is just a pointless but remarkable confirmation of their dejection.

Oh, how I wish they would look into their political lives to know that when the Ghanaian electorate rejected them at Election 2008 and repeated it at 2012, they did so with a clean conscience, having examined issues conscientiously to know who would best serve their purposes as the President. They went for the late Atta Mills at Election 2008 and John Dramani Mahama at Election 2012, not William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (what a mouthful of a name?) on both occasions because Akufo-Addo is not what Mills or Mahama is.  What is difficult about this plain fact to not understand?

The majority that went for President Mahama did so because of what they saw in him; and they haven’t shifted in any way to suggest that they regretted voting for him. I recall with some measured trepidation what some people said after Election 2008 to suggest that they regretted voting for ex-President Mills, apparently because they felt let down by goings-on. Although that expression of regret belongs to history, it still has its relevance if juxtaposed with the fate of President Mahama.

I haven’t heard any voter regret rooting for him; and he is well ensconced in the groove to serve his full four-year tenure and brace up for Election 2016. The Supreme Court has sealed it all for him and we will do everything to ensure that he survives the whirligig of the NPP’s negative politics. We have it as our bounden duty to lend him or unflinching support because he is the fount of authority in Ghana. Hail him, then!!

Within this context,  I am more than appalled by the kind of dirty politics that the NPP people have been doing all this while, especially after being humiliated at Election 2012 and told the plain truth by the Supreme Court on August 29. The ruling against them reinforces John Mahama’s legitimacy which they should have come to terms with by now had they risen above the “book politics” that they have been doing all this while and making themselves unappealing in consequence.

I am tempted to wonder sometimes why ex-President Kufuor can’t bring his experiences to bear on what is happening in his party, having himself outgrown all the negative things that he encountered from within to win the 2000 elections and be re-elected in 2004 to serve for 8 years. It’s not to suggest anything other than the fact that his ability to return the Danquah-Busia political family to glory after 30 years in the political wilderness owed much to factors hinging on personal characteristics and the existing political situation in the country under ex-President Rawlings. Kufuor succeeded; not so?

Truth be told, what Kufuor had to make him win the hearts of the electorate, Akufo-Addo lacks. Indeed, when Kufuor won narrowly the first round of Election 2000, there were many factors to give him a head-start advantage over ex-President Mills. No intention to revisit that aspect of our history, but suffice it to say that Kufuor’s ability to win the second round is remarkable.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Akufo-Addo who won the first round of Election 2008 only to tumble down into something else in the run-off. His whining and vain, desperate moves to use the judiciary (with the misguidance of Atta Akyea) didn’t yield anything beneficial because Kufuor was there as the voice of reason to cut it short. Kufuor preferred truth (in terms of happenings at the polls) to mere technicalities at the court or treachery. He proved to Akufo-Addo that elections are won at the polls.

Did Akufo-Addo learn any lesson to guide him for Election 2012? Your guess is as good as mine. He didn’t and will not if he stands again at Election 2016.

At this point, then, isn’t it clear that the NPP people who are out creating confusion here and there and seeking needless global attention are the architects of their own doom? Will they even know this truth?

To cite a simple instance to support this claim (especially because of their myopic “book politics”), let me refer to the current craze among them: demanding that Dr. Afari Gyan (Chair of the EC) should resign. What do they think the resignation of Dr. Afari Gyan will offer them? Put their defeated and dejected Akufo-Addo in office? Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa.

Here is the exact instance of their confusion as reported in the news:

“The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has backed calls for the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan to resign his position.

The NPP says the EC boss has "lost credibility" and not worthy to preside over the 2016 general elections after his testimony in court during the hearing of the dismissed President Election Petition.

The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) in a statement issued in Accra Tuesday called for the immediate resignation of Dr. Afari-Gyan.

The group claims his continuous stay in office after his admission that there were flaws in the 2012 election in court will be inimical to Ghana’s electoral process.

The call comes after the EC has requested political parties to submit proposal for reforms in the country’s electoral system.

However, speaking on Citinews, General Secretary of the party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie said the call for Afari-Gyan’s resignation is long overdue.

“We of the NPP are firmly convinced that Afari-Gyan’s position is untenable; he has lost credibility and public confidence so he must go,” he stressed. (See http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201309/112964.php)

And much much more more of such inanity. But so much of this drivel. Now, a good question for this myopic Owusu Afriyie: Who appoints the Electoral Commissioner? The NPP or the President, as mandated by the Constitution? And if Afari Gyan heeds the NPP’s call to resign, how will that redound to the NPP’s political fate? To claim some useless bragging rights that he did so because they mounted pressure on him? To what end to boost the NPP’s chances for Election 2016? How infantile!!

What will the resignation of Afari Gyan offer the NPP to suggest that it will have a brighter future than what has already jolted it? Are they fighting him because he is the only person to work against their interest in elections? One Afari Gyan here, another one there. Will there now be looking for all the Afari Gyans to deal with? Fighting every windmill they construct on the political terrain? What madness!

You see, the more these inexperienced but arrogant NPP politicians open their mouths to talk about issues that they know little about, the more they give me the opportunity to poke them on the rib cage. They don’t really know how to do politics and will continue to be at the receiving end.

The problem that we may glean out of this “TAKASHI POLITICS” is that which relates to the unfettered powers granted the President by the Constitution in the appointment of public officials. Unless the NPP’s agitation is meant to change the Constitutional mandate for the President not to be the sole appointing authority of the Electoral Commissioner and others whose role is crucial to the survival of our democracy, all that is happening now is mere hogwash.

It is futile and won’t advance the NPP’s cause. At best, it comes across as the last strokes of party functionaries suffering in the throes of political defeat. The earlier to come to terms with their sorry state, the better it will be for them to know how to re-strategize and prepare for future elections.

I am more than persuaded to believe at this point that what they have done so far is counter-productive and won’t help them re-define themselves as politicians genuinely interested in grabbing political power in this 21^st century. They are already an endangered species and need better strategies to remain in contention. Can they, for once, give us a break?

I shall return…

·         E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com

·         Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor

·         Contact me through http://mjkbokor.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/writers-relief/ for solutions to your writing problems.

Otchere Darko typifies the lazy thinking going on in the NPP

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Folks, it is not often that I react to utterances made by some elements in the NPP. For what they are to me, they don't really turn my crank to warrant my wasting my breath on them. One such element is Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, the so-called Executive Director of the Danquah Institute. 

All this while that he has been in the news, he hasn’t come across to me as a politician of merit or a lawyer of any special designation. He is a noise-maker who is basking in nothing but the faded glory of the Danquah-Busia tradition. I don't really see anything worthwhile coming from him but what he has put out today does turn my crank, and I want to react to it to confirm my poor opinion of him and those behind the scene pushing him to display so much inanity in national politics.

After making a mockery of himself by describing the Supreme Court judgement against his uncle (Akufo-Addo) as “corrupt” (or even after bad-mouthing the judges and challenging them to deal with him if they could), he is out in the news with something totally weird.

He says that the Supreme ruled 5:4 in favour of Akufo-Addo and that Justice Atuguba read the wrong judgement to confirm the legitimacy of President Mahama's victory at Election 2012.

In a six-page statement copied to Myjoyonline.com, Otchere-Darko suggested that what the Supreme Court did was "as if the Court’s main duty was to uphold the presidency of John Mahama rather than to uphold the Constitution of the Republic".

"My view, however, is that the decision, in both fact and law, is a 5:4 majority that John Mahama was not validly elected. This is because five justices, Julius Ansah, Rose Owusu, Jones Dotse, Anin Yeboah, and Baffoe Bonnie, all held that the irregularities found were enough to affect the results and that there should be a second election but in the affected areas. Significantly, they were willing to uphold the law but without totally disenfranchising the voters affected."

Therefore, the Danquah Institute will on Monday, September 16, 2013, in partnership with other civil society groups hold a symposium at the British Council for jurists and other legal and statistics experts to critique the decision of the Supreme Court in the presidential election petition.

(See: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=285138)

For purposes of emphasis and reiteration, I reproduce salient parts of Otchere Darko’s full statement, published by Myjoyonline and Ghanaweb.com:

the court mistakenly read out a reversed judgment;

after a careful study of the 588 page-long ruling on the 2012 presidential election petition, five of the judges agreed with the petitioners' case as against four for the first respondent, John Dramani Mahama.

MY COMMENTS

If this is not madness of a new kind in political thinking, then, I don't know what else qualifies as such.

We all heard the verdict read in an open court by Justice William Atuguba, president of the nine panel Supreme Court judges, which was:

Duplicate serial numbers of pink sheets: 9–0 [UNANIMOUSLY DISMISSED];

Duplicate Polling Station Codes &Names: 9–0 [UNANIMOUSLY DISMISSED]’

Unknown Polling Stations: 9–0 [UNANIMOUSLY DISMISSED];

Voting without biometric verification: 5–4 [MAJORITY DISMISSED];

Over voting: 5–4 [MAJORITY DISMISSED];

Non-signing of Pink Sheets by POs 5–4 [MAJORITY DISMISSED]

Where, in this ruling is any confirmation that the verdict was 5:4 in Akufo-Addo’s favour for Otchere Darko to make this ugly noise about?

Only a demented person will go this way. I hesitate to blame him because he is only manifesting the morbid frustration that has gripped his political camp. But he is carrying that frustration to dizzying heights and will soon come face-to-face with the Fate that he has been tempting all this while.

 And for him to suggest that the opinion of those NPP judges on the panel that the elections be re-run in the areas that they thought the so-called irregularities occurred is enough confirmation of his claim is not only bizarre but is shoddy thinking.

Were the judges given pink sheets from all the 26,002 polling stations for them to see the big picture to be able to form any reliable opinion on what transpired as a way of record-keeping?

Or, how did the NPP judges determine that irregularities occurred at all and for which the elections should be re-run in those areas? How did they know which of the candidates the voters voted for or against to determine that a re-run be done?

Again, we have all read the judges' opinions and can tell outright why they unanimously dismissed most of the petitioners' allegations and defeated the rest by a majority decision. Thus, for Otchere Darko to cherry-pick areas that the NPP judges settled on to paint this picture clearly explains why he couldn't even pass his law qualifying exams but was pushed through by faceless characters at the Ghana Law School.

Let these NPP town-criers know that in their own petition, they didn't call for any re-run of the elections. It couldn't, therefore, be tenable for them to go that way as a stop-gap measure.

If they were wise enough to know that elections are won or lost on the basis of ballot basis, they would have asked for recounting of the ballots instead of settling on pink sheets.

That is why I find this part of Otchere Darko’s statement to be particularly ridiculous: “the Danquah Institute will on Monday, September 16, 2013, in partnership with other civil society groups hold a symposium at the British Council for jurists and other legal and statistics experts to critique the decision of the Supreme Court in the presidential election petition.”

Why should they waste time, energy, and resources to CRITIQUE the Supreme Court’s judgement instead of choosing the obvious and reasonable course of action to seek review? If they think that they stand on a strong legal foundation to overturn the Court’s judgement, why won’t they go for a review instead of seeking to critique it?

And by critiquing the Court’s judgement, what do they hope to achieve? That the critique will lead to a reversal of Akufo-Addo’s fate? How mentally and intellectually lazy can’t Otchere Darko and those supporting him be?

Thanks to Kwame Pianin’s wise crack, we know what mental and intellectual laziness can lead to, especially when any fool bears a party’s flag to the elections!!

I don't want to be overly harsh but suffice it for me to say that Otchere Darko clearly demonstrates and confirms the lazy thinking going on in the NPP. And this kind of lazy thinking won’t win political power.

Let these idle hands assemble at the British Council Hall to waste their breath. If they are bold enough to fight the Supreme Court, why don't they go for a review? Do they know why Philip Addison, their lead counsel, has chosen silence as his weapon for reacting to the Supreme Court’s judgement? He knows better than they do!!

Of course, no matter how long these NPP people sustain their Atuguba-loathing or condemnation of the Supreme Court’s verdict, nothing will change. What is written is written. All this noise-making is part of the grand exit strategy to save Akufo-Addo’s skin. Eventually the dust will settle to reveal to these noise makers how mindless they have been all along. Then, they will barely have time to prepare for Election 2016. Consequently, filing another election petition will be their lot!

I shall return…

E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com

Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor