An Open Letter To NPP Executive Council

As we approach the Delegates’ Congress to elect the new flag bearer to lead the NPP into the 2008 general elections, we are witnessing an increasing and, disturbing activity, by some candidates, and their sponsors, or supporters, to railroad the democratic process with obscene amounts of money and implied threats. Responsible citizens have to rise to the task, of challenging, questioning, and censuring the NPP National Executive, and in particular, the National Chairman on why these widely reported infractions, amounting to gross violations of the Party’s Code of Ethics [CoE], are allowed to go on UNCHALLENGED & UNPUNISHED!!

From the Greater Accra Region, through to the Northern Region, then to the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, and to Cape Coast in the Central Region, the news is the same: “DCEs, MCEs, Regional party Chairmen, and in some instances, MPs and former ministers of state, are passing on and receiving money from certain candidates, so as to influence the delegates selection from those regions.

Chief among the functions of the Party Chairman, and his National Executives, is the responsibility to see to the strict adherence of the party’s Code of Ethics, and bring back into line, any party member performing acts which could bring the party into disrepute. The executives are charged with ensuring any endeavour, or program of the party are undertaken in a transparent and ethical manner, not least if such endeavour is for the election of the party’s flagbearer. It is therefore a matter of absurd curiosity, that the Executives have remained deafly silent, and seemly acquiescent with those candidates’ code violations.

What is at stake here goes beyond code violations; it reaches far into the whole national canker of CORRUPTION, and the causes of it! These aspirants to the flagbearer post and, by extension, to the state presidency, are at the constituency and polling station level, planting seed of, and, indeed, affirming the culture of “nothing for nothing, and, something for something”, which is the definition of corruption, alias kalabule. These aspirants, heaping obscene and, SOURCE UNACCOUNTABLE amounts of CASH to all and anyone, directly linked or proximate to the selection of, or, the potential delegate themselves, are demonstrably corrupt, and fertilising, nurturing, and grooming the flourishing of corruption. For those with a semblance of a trace as to their source of funding, there remains the sticky but rhetorical question “what did these aspirants mortgage in return for the massive financial backing?” Rhetorical, because it almost goes without saying, that indeed “nothing is given for nothing”. Does this not condone, affirm, and blatantly legitimise corruption/kalabule? What these aspirants are mortgaging, are, their FREEDOM and CONSCIENCE to appoint, discipline, govern and LEAD BY EXAMPLE, when elected as state president!! With what moral authority would a tainted aspirant, turned state president, talk about measures to curb, or indeed arrest corruption?

Regrettably, NONE!

Mr National Chairman, and the National Executive of the New Patriotic party [NPP], if this did not occur to you, please realise that you are guilty, or culpable, in the dereliction of your duty to the party in particular, and the nation in general. I feel well within my rights to put you bang to order, because, I learn from reliable sources, Mr Chairman, that you made a stop over in London en route from the USA, to address the UK & Ireland branch of the party, during their regular end of month meeting. At that meeting, Mr Chairman, the source says you made it a focal point, to stress the dire consequences awaiting any candidate, office holder or party member who transgressed the letter and spirit of the CoE. How come then, that in the face of not isolated, but persistent, open and bold violations, you remain unmoved to visit any of those vaunted consequences threatened in the CoE and by yourself?!

IF VOTES ARE LITERALLY ON SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER[S], as we are witnessing up and down the country, especially by one, and lately, two aspirants, what is the credibility of the democratic process of electing THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB?

Post 22nd December 2007, with this very PUBLIC display of “money for delegates”, “dangling the carrot” inducements, and in some instances, intimidatory strategies from very highly placed levels, in the lead up to the election of our flagbearer, would a candidate meeting the requirements of a “truly cross sectional and representative leader” be said to have been elected? Would we not be playing into the justifiable criticisms of our opponents and friends alike, that THE HIGHEST BIDDER, NOT, THE BEST CANDIDATE WAS ELECTED?

With this as a consequence, why is the NPP National secretariat not bringing out the whip, to bring the house to order? Or, are these “highly placed sources” influencing what happens, or, does not happen at the National Secretariat? Here I was, thinking the National Secretariat was independent and autonomous! If this query/assertion were to be disputed, then my riposte is, “why the lack of PUBLIC condemnation and censorship of not only affected aspirants, but also, those ‘harvest time’ Regional, Constituency, and Polling Station officials, including in some instances, MPs and former ministers?”

It has been widely reported in all media sources, with NAMED Office Holders [MPs; Regional Ministers; MCEs; DCEs and Polling Station official] at several regions, all manner of cash inducements, implied ‘high source preference’, and intimidation by/of these officials, in a bid to influence delegates’ selection, and aspirant choice. Some of these named officials openly admit to accepting money and other promised rewards, from named aspirants’ sources. Why has the National Chairman and his Secretariat not thrown the CoE book at these officials, and, censured these named aspirants? I round off this query with selected excerpts from provable media sources.

**The requisite Code of Ethics violations are as ffs:

1) CoE item 3: “Any aspirant or anybody on behalf of the aspirant who calls for a Party constituency meeting must necessarily seek clearance from the Regional leadership”. *Violations:(i) An excerpt from ModernGhana.com titled “Northern Region DCE’s Scheme for Alan” Politics - Mon, 03 Dec 2007 “….The Statesman said when it contacted Shaiba Shani, Northern Regional NPP Organiser about the Radach Hotel meeting, he said although he was aware such a meeting took place, he was not privy to what was said there since it was not channeled through the regional office of the party as it is normally the case”

(ii) An excerpt from Ghanaweb titled:

General News of Tuesday, 4 December 2007

Confusion & Bribery In Cape Coast NPP

``ALAN`S KALAMARI CHIEF IN CAPE COAST MESS” “... Regional party boss Mr. Bootie Danquah Smith spoke on Radio Valco yesterday, explaining the events of the day. The constituency treasurer who was not invited to the congress spoke on air denouncing the selected election as a sham. Neither the second Vice Chairman Mr. Cann, the constituency secretary Mr. Murtala and the women’s organiser, Hajia Memuna were invited, only Hutchful” 2) COE item 7 “Party officers at all levels: National, Regional, Constituency, polling station officials as well as MPs, Ministers, District Chief Executives -are to refrain from openly declaring the support of any branch, constituency, or organ for any individual candidate or campaigning for them”.

*Violations: (i) An extract from Ghanaweb, titled:

General News of Wednesday, 5 December 2007

Alanphobia Grips The Nation

“An unholy cloud of fear and apprehension hangs over the necks of District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Ministers of State as the clock slowly ticks inexorably towards December 22..... The fear factor heightened last week when the chilling effect of the threat, first made by Mr. Paul Afoko, a member of the Finance Committee of the New Patriotic Party and member of the consortium that has won the bid for the construction of a refinery in Sekondi-Takoradi, materialized when President Kufuor announced the dismissal of some DCEs a fortnight ago....This followed the alleged threat of Afoko to dismiss unfriendly DCEs and the subsequent execution of the threat by the Presidency..... Last month The Castle struck ...felling three DCEs without explanation...Now almost all the DCEs in the Northern Region and across the nation have turned to worshiping ..... Alan John Kyerematen and his campaign team. The Chronicle can confirm without any reservation, that the DCEs apart from defeating the guiding principles of the NPP’s tradition are also using state resources to go round the region together with Mr. Paul Afoko to vigorously and openly campaign for Alan.... This paper has decided to withhold the names and descriptions of those DCEs, where they usually meet, lodge and their car registration numbers, until otherwise required. They have succeeded in holding secret meetings and talks with Paul Afoko and other leading campaign mates of Alan to demonstrate their commitment to the President’s favourite presidential aspirant. The President in last month’s interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) admitted he had a favourite candidate, but failed to name him....The Northern Regional Secretary of the NPP, Clifford Braimah in an interview with The Chronicle also expressed disappointment about the conduct of the DCEs, which he said was clearly against the NPPs code of ethics.... Mr. Clifford therefore threw the challenge to the National Executive Committee to take action before the matter gets out of hand”. PS: The source of this article appearing on the web, confidently names Afoko, and, significantly, is ready to disclose names of office holders openly violating this CoE item, if challenged!

(ii) An excerpt from Modern Ghana.com titled:

“Northern Region DCE’s Scheme for Alan” Politics - Mon, 03 Dec 2007 “At about 11:00am Friday, inside the Wumpini Hall of the Radach Memorial Centre/Hotel, Tamale, the Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer of Tamale and three DCEs from the Northern Region gathered 240 constituency officers from all but two of the 26 constituencies in the region….According to The Statesman, the two-hour meeting was addressed by businessman Paul Afoko, who made a curious claim that Alan Kyerematen was historically the biggest financier to the party among all the aspirants….He spoke in English, with Tamale MCE Mohammed Amin Antah, translating it in Dagbani. The purpose of the meeting, like several others across the country, according to the newspaper, was to sell the Alan Kyerematen candidacy…The organizers included Peter Wuni, DCE of Mamprusi East, Saba Wahab, Karaga DCE, and Salifu Sa-eed, Nanumba North DCE… The Tamale MCE told the gathering that the President knows who best can succeed him so they should not underestimate the import of the President having a preference”.

PS: Named office holders openly declaring support for a candidate!

(iii) Recent reports in the press, emanating from the Greater Accra region, also tell of the Greater Accra Regional chairman, planning to schedule a secret and unauthorised meeting of all other Regional Chairmen, to force a declaration of support for Alan Kyeremanteng.

3) CoE item 11 “Aspirants must be conscious of the fact that unduly influencing the party’s democratic institutions with money has the potential to undermine the democratic credentials of the party”

CoE item 12 “Aspirants must under no circumstances consciously seek to influence party officials or members by the offer or gift of money or other valuable consideration, which are calculated to undermine the democratic credentials of the party”.

*Violations: (i) An extract from Ghanaweb titled:

General News of Wednesday, 5 December 2007

Alanphobia Grips The Nation “…We all collected the money,” admitted Mr. Biney, the [Cape Coast] constituency treasurer, “but we are not pro-Alan, but studying the candidates.”

(ii) An excerpt from Modern Ghana.com titled:

NPP in self destruct mode Politics - Mon, 03 Dec 2007

“….an agitated chairman of a Brong Ahafo constituency, pleading strict anonymity, last Friday night spoke to ADM on what he described as the "terrible thing happening to our party". He told ADM that a former minister, also the MP for a constituency in Kumasi "descended" on the Brong Ahafo Region to canvass support for a presidential aspirant….This former minister told the B.A. constituency chairmen that he was campaigning for "the preferred choice of Accra". The significance of "Accra" was not lost on the chairmen and they quickly grasped the meaning….This former minister, himself the subject of much controversy, leading to his resignation last year, then proceeded to offer "assistance" to the constituency executives to influence them to entice delegates to vote for Accra's choice. Each constituency chairman received ¢10 million, other executive members each received ¢3 million; ¢10 million was also "donated" to each constituency to "help" with the organization of delegate selection. By the end of it all, ¢150 million had been spent on each constituency….Special mobile phones were also given to each of the executives…”

PS: please note, these excerpts are not hear say, but boldly mention known officials and their names, venues, stated purposes and quotes!!

(iii) An excerpt from Modern Ghana.com titled: `We will take the cash`…but vote according to what is good for Ghana… Posted: Tuesday, Dec 4 2007 “….One of the constituency executives told ADM that “since we have not demanded monies from the aspirants, any of them who is awash in cash and wants to dish some to us, we will take it, but it would not buy our conscience.”… He told ADM that it is true that they are under pressure, especially from Amin Anta, the young Tamale MCE and a businessman called Paul Afoko “day and night to vote in a certain way come December 22nd”. He said it is true that enticements in the form of cash have been offered and the DCEs have been “crisscrossing their areas of jurisdiction to whip constituency executives and delegates into line” (iv) An excerpt from Ghanaweb titled:

Politics of Monday, 3 December 2007

NPP In Trouble Over Selection Of Delegates “…In the Ashanti region also, specifically, Offinso South, matters came to a head recently when the Constituency Chairman K.K. Boafo and a former constituency youth organizer of the party, Kwaku Konadu .... had a massive verbal altercation on radio over the selection of delegates to the national congress....The former youth organizer revealed that the chairman has been persuading potential delegates to vote for Alan Kyeremanteng to ensure that an Ashanti retains the presidency. He said, the Chairman having realized that his lobbying was not making any impact, decided to handpick about 5 of his family members and three ex-officio members who are said to be Alan's sympathizers without the notice of constituency executives.....He accused the chairman of going to the farms and houses 90 polling station executives and manipulating them to endorse his handpicked delegates by giving them an amount of three hundred thousand Cedis. The money was said to have been sent by Alan.....Reacting to the statement, the Constituency Chairman admitted giving money to the people in question to have the candidates endorsed” [Violation of COE items: 7,11 & 12]

(v) An excerpt from Ghanaweb titled:

General News of Wednesday, 28 November 2007

Akufo-Addo Splashes ¢640m “Challenges Alan In Last Minute Money Game””If you ever thought that former Minister of Trade and Industries, Mr. John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is the only NPP presidential aspirant who sees his bid for the flagbearership as an investment and therefore throws money about, then you are mistaken. The Chronicle can report on authority that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, another leading contender in the NPP race is neck deep in “moneycracy.”.....With less than 30 days to go to the National delegates Conference, Nana Akufo Addo is learning the strategy of Alan Cash very fast and thus exposing the hypocrisy of the former minister who has publicly criticized the extravagant campaign of fellow aspirant who goes by the name of Cash. Last Friday, the former Foreign Affairs Minister met 30 out of the 39 constituency chairmen in Ashanti region richer by GH¢1,000 when he met these selected chairmen and four of their executives. The invitees included the constituency chairmen, secretary, organizer, youth organizer, women organizer..... Chronicle sources at the meeting also indicated that each of the four executives also received GH¢250 making it a total of GH¢2,000 for every selected constituency. At the close of the secret meeting at Washington View Hotel at Achawkrom near Ejisu, Nana Akufo Addo had doled out GH¢64,000 (¢640 million) to the party executives before he left for Accra without touching Kumasi…” Code Of ethics items 14 & ‘k’, quoted below puts the icing on the cake. They spell out unambiguously, the sanctions for COE violations. As aforementioned, the National Chairman puff chestedly flourished a copy of the COE at the London meeting. How is it that when it comes to being true to his word, and as dictated by the CoE, he is found wanting? **CoE item 14 “Any breach of the above guidelines shall constitute misconduct under the Party’s Constitution and shall attract the appropriate sanctions”.

**CoE item ‘k’ “Contestants who violate any of these ethical provisions/principles may be disqualified as a candidate”.

On this note I rest my case with this final advice: The late emperor Haille Selasie echoed that “it is the silence of those who ought to speak out and the inaction of those who ought to act, which allows evil to triumph”. It could not be better summed up!!

On this apt quote, I wish to urge the NPP National Chairman and his Secretariat to ensure, by ALL MEANS possible, the conduct of a Delegates Congress, populated by delegates selected on the basis of a free & democratic consensus; with a mandate to elect a flagbearer, on the SOLE BASIS of that individual’s DEMONSTRABLY PROVEN ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITIES; UNIFYING CAPABILITY; PATENT ABOVE BOARD PERSONALITY; HUMILITY; AND A NATIONALLY APPEALING PERSONA CAPABLE OF DELIVERING THE 3RD TERM OF AN NPP ADMINISTRATION.

CC: Mr Mc Manu, National Chairman, NPP The National Secretariat, NPP, Accra The National Council of Elders, NPP The Flagbearer of the NPP [HE President JA Kufour] The national media [radio, electronic, newsprint]