Election ‘08: Why Nana Akufo-Addo Deserves The Mandate

I am by this article vouching for the presidency of Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a maverick Member of Parliament, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, now the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party. There is no gainsaying that President Kufuor’s two maximum terms have been successful. The President is leaving with many successes to his credit. This is one most imposing reason why Nana Akufo-Addo’s march to the presidency is within reach. As the time draws closer, I deem it necessary to show my public support for Nana Akufo-Addo’s bid for the presidency; my reasons are not far-fetched.

Change is a very popular paradigm in partisan politics and has become even more so with the use of CHANGE as a catchword delivering an unprecedented and astonishing victory to Sen. Barack OBAMA, [now President-elect] in the USA. However, change does not necessarily lead to progress. It’s therefore not a surprise that the change mentioned by our politicians in Ghana does not go beyond the literal sense of the word. The New Patriotic Party [NPP] presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo clearly stands for the continuation of the achievements of the last 8-years under President Kufuor. He has not hidden his intention to build upon the legacy of Kufuor’s administration. Candidate Professor John Atta-Mills, a law professor and a former Vice President of Ghana and now the flagbearer of the biggest opposition party, National Democratic Congress [NDC] has promised to bring change wherever it is so needed. His brand of change is not tactically selected and marketed. He seems to be plying along the lines of Jerry John Rawlings’ smear campaign against the government based more on his characteristic temperament than pragmatic political reasoning. For example, Mills claim that he will be president for everyone when elected creates an impression that this current administration has been for sections of Ghanaians. Such a message contains nothing than mere political gimmickry.

John Atta Mills campaign has found it difficult to base their call for change on the achievements of the NDC under the first 2-term 4th Republican Constitution headed by his mentor, John Rawlings. This is probably understandable because whatever Rawlings is shrouded in political controversy. The former President has not helped the situation through his continuous style of callous and irresponsible politics. His public utterances are believed to have caused more harm than good to the Mills campaign. It is not difficult to fathom how much embarrassment it has caused them. Prof Mills has been silent in spite of the numerous political profanity and excesses coming from the former President and his Office.

Majority of Ghanaians think the current administration has done very well. Besides the unprecedented infrastructural developments across the country, most Ghanaians do not take for granted the enviable achievements in the areas of human rights, good governance and enhanced democracy. We should not underestimate the gains from poverty alleviation schemes like the NHIS, the Capitation grant, School Feeding Program, and gratis antenatal care for pregnant women. We all, including those of us in the Diaspora, feel the benefits of these schemes right in our pockets. My own experience is that, I pay less for healthcare to my extended family members in Ghana now than I used to do under the cash-and-carry system practiced under the NDC’s two term regimes. I know many Ghanaians who are experiencing the same as I do.

In today’s Ghana, one does not need to look over his or her shoulders to express dissenting thoughts or, as a friend rightly likes to put it, to even show extreme contempt towards the sitting President. The intimidation of those with dissenting views as we witnessed under the NDC has been left to rest in oblivion. President Kufuor has lived up to expectations as a 21st century leader in this area. It amazes many Ghanaians how the President has been able to endure all the pain inflicted and the disdain directed to his leadership by Rawlings and his cadres without stemming his authority. It is also amazing how Jerry Rawlings gets the energy and resources to pursue such a huge hate political agenda for the last 8 years. Rawlings intentions and behaviour raise our eyebrows and generate scepticism on any thoughts about a New NDC.

The reason why I think Prof. Mills is not ready to lead Ghana is not because he is a bad person. He is very nice as a person; I have heard many people saying the same thing about him. The fear majority of Ghanaians have is whether he [Mills] has the capacity to win over Rawlings’ dream of ruling the country again – this time through the back seat ‘with his poodle sitting on the driver’s seat’. The ageing Professor seems to continue to remain thankful for the controversial Swedru Declaration that placed him ahead of his NDC colleagues – some of them much more qualified and experienced [in terms of political exposure] than he was. This has clearly put his campaign in an awkward position and has been unable to collaborate with or control the activities of John Rawlings. One hardly sees John Mills and John Rawlings on the same platform and, in many cases, Rawlings is reported to have refused to mention or collaborate with Mills campaign during massive rallies. This leaves one to wonder whether he is working to see Mills elected or he is testing his popularity against that of the ailing Professor, to be used as a springboard to control the steer from the passenger seat should the NDC succeed. Many Ghanaians foresee a likelihood of power struggle that will be quite an expensive drawback. We should be resolved to make hay before sunset.

I urge Ghanaians to vote [massively] for the NPP to continue the job they have started and what they have achieved so far under President Kufuor. Prof. Mills and his NDC have refused to clarify the concerns of many Ghanaians about the threat of Rawlings to the security of the country. Rawlings recently publicly [virtually] warned Ghanaians that anyone [including Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo] who criticizes him risks liquidation should he and his boys get their way; citing the cruel killing of Gen. Odartey Willington in 1979 as an example. The Mills campaign has ignored the threat Rawlings’ addiction to power poses but, to many Ghanaians, the power struggle that will emerge should Mills win is eminent and alarming.

The candidates for the other political parties are not mentioned in this article not out of disrespect; I have great respect for all of them. I excluded them intentionally, mainly due to my believe that there has not yet emerged any credible third force party that poses a threat to our two major political parties – the ruling NPP and the biggest opposition party, the NDC.

For the above-mentioned reasons and issues about political economy [which I intentionally left out], I take this opportunity to appeal to all peace-loving Ghanaians to vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party Candidate, number One on the ballot sheet, as the next President of Ghana.

Wish all the candidates and political parties GOOD LUCK.

Peter Ohemeng [The WatchDog Desk]