A comment on "Kumasi Bombshell"

The disadvantage of reading about events in Ghana on Ghanaweb, the electronic Diaspora's "Graphic" is that one often has to wonder whether the content is as true as reported. One looks for supporting news items and the source of the reporting to determine veracity. What follows is written with caution and hope that there is more to the story than what was reported by Chronicle of President Kufuor's meeting in Kumasi on Friday February 9, 2007 with Ashanti Region's NPP constituency executives. Our souls are troubled by the implications of what our dear President Kufuor is reported to have said to the prospective electorate of the NPP Presidential Nominee later this year.

No, Chronicle must have it wrong that the President who has proclaimed his neutrality and openness will be part of a meeting that bars the inquiring pens and lenses of the press. Our minds simply cannot accept that.

No, Chronicle's sources must have not heard correctly when they reported that the President dropped no minor a bombshell when he openly directed the future delegates not to vote for anyone whom he has dismissed as a Minister. Yes, the Chronicle's informants may have heard it right that Mr. President did not mention names but little would be left to the imagination. The fingers would point to the following who were all dismissed in the last Presidential "Reshuffle and Cut" of May 2006: Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (Deputy Minister- Interior), Yaw Osafo Maafo (Minister of Education and Sports), Issac Edumadze (Central Regional Minister), Joseph Boahene Aidoo(Western Regional Minister), Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku(Minister of Regional Integration and NEPAD), J. Ayikoi Otoo ( Attorney General and Minister of Justice), Dan Botwe (Minister of Information), Christine Churcher( Minister of Environment and Science), Kwabena Agyepong (the President's Press Secretary), Dr Gashika Agambilla (Deputy Minister for Environment and Science), Moses Dani Baah (Deputy Minister for Private Sector Development), Kofi Osei Ameyaw (Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry) and J.H. Mensah (Senior Minister). Subsequently the Minister of Transportation, Dr. Richard Anane, was added to this list for more apparent reasons. So far we have heard various levels of expressions of interest to run for the NPP Presidential nomination from Effah-Dartey, Osafo-Maafo, Apraku, Botwe, and Agyepong.

Back in May there were agreements and disagreements on those who suffered the cut. The President allowed the press to only speculate as to why he took the action without offering any reasons. In the end calm prevailed and all were resigned to the conclusion that it is the President's prerogative to decide whom he wants on his team and who gets the axe. Hard as it was, the press swallowed the "he owes no one an explanation" pill and the issue got the R.I.P. tag, at least, publicly.

If it has to resurface and the ghosts of May 2006 have to be revived in no less a context than actively steering people away from this list and effectively declaring them pariahs, then we want more in the name of fairness , neutrality and democracy. Does the President know something that Ghana's electorate should know about each person on this list? Is the intent to serve Ghana's interest by raising an alarm because of what he alone knows? Then in the interest of fairness, neutrality, democracy and above all NPP unity, we want more. Then again, Chronicle may have it all wrong, and it certainly would not be the first time- still for the sake of fairness, neutrality, democracy, effective communication, confidence in the NPP's delegate electoral system, faith in Ghana's electorate and Party unity, someone should start talking and right away. No one can predict the ultimate effect if this is allowed to fester- whether or not Chronicle is right - perception...perception…that is 90% of politics…painful but true.

Kofi A. Boateng, New York.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.