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Opinions of Thursday, 21 October 2010

Columnist: Daily Democrat

Is Akufo-Addo A Drug Addicts?

Group challenges him to go public

source Daily Democrat

Ghanaian Youth for Good Governance (GYGG), a civil society group has challenged
New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Nana Addo Danqua Akufo-Addo to once and for all
deny publicly the accusation that he uses drugs.

According to the group, the insistent by the numerous spokespersons of the
failed presidential candidate in the 2008 election, that he denied the
accusations on an FM station in Europe is even disrespectful to Ghanaians in
view of the fact that he is running for a political office in Ghana and counting
on the Ghanaian electorates to vote him into power.
They have therefore challenged Nana Addo to go public on the cocaine allegation
leveled against him. The challenge by GYGG was contained in a press release
submitted to the offices ofThe Daily Democrat.
Below is the full test from GYGG issued and signed by its spokesperson, Zu Kwame
Since the election of Nana Akufo-Addo in December 2007 as the flag bearer of the
NPP, he has come under intense public criticism on various issues related to his
personal and family life. However, he has been very hush on these censures. It
is prudent to treat mere and unfounded allegations with contempt, nonetheless
when speculations have grown into full fledged realities underpinned with clear
evidences, silence is tragic.
Nana Addo has been widely alleged to be a cocaine addict and a drunkard.
Recently, his31 year old daughter Mary Fummy Gyankroma Akufo-Addo who is one of
the four daughters from three different women was completely soaked to the
marrow with alcohol and drove into the vehicle of Mr. Paa kwasi Amissah Arthur,
the governor of the Bank of Ghana. In as much as one may wish to be circumspect
and attempt not to link the deviance of a child to the parent, it is also
incumbent on a responsible parent to condemn this recalcitrant behaviour without
fear. Politics that is not sensitive to the concerns and circumstances of
people's lives, a politics that does not speak to and include people, is an
intellectually arrogant politics that deserves to fail.One may ask, even if
those who allege do not deserve any form of rebut, Ghanaians whose mandate you
seek merit some explanation to build confidence where appropriate and caution
where necessary.

The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to
excellence regardless of their chosen endeavor. If now, Nana Addo cannot be
accountable to Ghanaians by stating sincerely his position on public issues that
have greater propensity to derail our social values, how can he ever be
straightforward, honest and transparent when given the highest office of the
land that he seeks? Ghanaians deserve answers.
We feel Nana Addo’s silence is no more golden but a betrayal of trust and
confidence. He as a lawyer would agree with us that even though modern English
law does not recognize silence as consent, conventionally we do. We are hereby
tempted to conclude that he is in full support of his daughter’s reckless
expedition to kill innocent and law abiding citizens of our motherland. To make
his work easier, we advice him to recruit his three other daughters in addition
to Fummy to join his long and speedy convoy in a national tour to kill all of
us. We are certain, that will complete his wish and make him speak or better
still dance around the whole country as he did in 2008.

The Ghanaian Youth for Good Governance believes in exemplary and good leadership
that can shape our youth and subsequently our future as a nation. We therefore
find it imperative for the flag bearer of the biggest opposition party (NPP) to
respond to issues bothering on his personal and family life. This will not only
put the minds of Ghanaians at rest but also recover a little if there be any of
his own reputation.
These days, Nana Addo has skilled himself in appearing at traditional functions
of chief and equally important dignitaries late only to break protocol and brand
the organizers unfriendly, this calculated attempt to generate turmoil and make
fun while shaking hands center, left and right in hungry expectation of
recognition is despicable. In any case, if he so wishes to shake all present at
a every given ceremony, then he must as well be ready to be present early enough
to afford him the luxury of shaking hands from door to door. Governance is not
about riding in long and ostentatious convoy and carrying oneself as president
while you are not.
Observing with keen interest the trend of events and the unfolding occurrences
in his family, we hereby add our voices to that of Mr. Kofi Wayo to reiterate
the need for Nana Akufo Addo to undergo a drug test together with his entire
nuclear family. This call has no intention to mock Mr. Akufo Addo and his
family, nevertheless, it has been necessitated by speculations proven and
authenticated by his daughter Mary Fummy Gyankroma Akufo-Addo’s public
confirmation of all pending rumours about Nana Akufo Addo. We Africans are aware
that “Charity begins at home”.

Mr. Akufo Addo’s public rebuke and condemnation of his daughter’s mischief
coupled with agreeing to undergo a drug test will not only dignify him,but safe
guard the generic security and welfare of the citizenry of our motherland. After
all, we cannot deny the fact that he is a role module and a mentor to many
youths in this country and beyond. We therefore hope, he will clear the air to
put smiles on the faces of millions of parents whose children admire him in one
way or the other.
Although Mr. Akufo Addo has been adamant in spite of several efforts from
individuals and group of persons to make him respond to these issues bedeviling
him and his family. We (GYGG) also call on him to do what is right and in the
better interest of the whole nation.
May God bless our homeland Ghana! Long Live Good Governance!! Long live us
all!!!