Nana Akufo-Addo: The Real Man Behind The Headlines

Much has been written about the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party [NPP], Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, much of it contrived, some churlish and others, extolling his qualities. In the midst of all these, tomorrow December 2012, when the electorate would have to choose between the two undisputed front runners – Pres John Mahama and Nana Akufo Addo – I will attempt a down to earth appreciation of Nana. This exercise is timely and appropriate in an effort to itemize the relative qualities and compelling reasons why Nana Akufo Addo should be the next president of Ghana

Tireless Worker: Age, it is oft said is just a number, and that you are as old as you feel. To this end, I have never ceased to be amazed at Nana’s indefatigable energy. Though on the wrong side of sixty years, his energy puts much younger men to shame. Just consider his grueling ten regions ‘Listening Tours’ followed only a few months later by his ‘Hope Tours’ in 2011/2012 and the just ended 'mopping up' tours leading to tomorrow's general elections. You can only appreciate what is involved in these tours if you undertook one. Certainly, poor terrain and the vastness of the territory of Ghana, should give you an appreciation these endeavors. Very rarely traveling by plane, the 4x4s used are not luxurious, but practical vehicles to combat the rough terrain. Taking cat naps during transit in these bone-shaker vehicles followed by mounting podiums to give rallying speeches should be stuff for much younger and sprightly gym going men.

Pres JDM and the NDC can talk as much as they like about Pre and Post Independence presidential candidates, but Nana's constant national tours is of public record and so his age is certainly no bar to his ability to perform. Political success, when it comes his way, is fully merited and earned! When a man like Nana says “I know your circumstances and how you feel”, he would be saying so on authority, having pounded those roads and mixed with people in inhospitable areas of the country. Nana set the tone now typically copied by the NDC's JDM

Comparison: John Mahama, the self proclaimed post Independence born president, but had never undertaken long and arduous campaign tours. In 2008, Ex-Pres Rawlings did all the hard graft for him and Mills. He cannot claim personal knowledge of the circumstances of all the parts of the nation as Nana can. In his bid to close grounds on Nana, John Mahama undertook a supposed ‘Thank You’ tour of the nation after succeeding to pres MIlls, which incidentally only takes in the capitals and larger centers of the various regions!

Selfless Devotion: From of old, the ideal of being involved in politics was to serve, though most latter day politicians are dubiously in politics for what they can amass for themselves. Being of the respectable ‘old school’, Nana gave up his successful and lucrative private law practice to go into active politics at a time when a brutal military regime was in place and political parties proscribed. He led the famed ‘Kumi Preko’ marches against the PNDC all of which finally led to the return to constitutional rule. He selflessly put himself on the line.

At a recent breakfast meeting in London in February 2012, he informed a group of businessmen and potential sponsors as follows: “If I wanted to make money, I would have stayed in private law practice, but I chose public service. Therefore, if you want to make money, please stay in business, you have no place in politics, certainly not in an Akufo-Addo administration”! Now that is moral leadership! To look potential sponsors in the eye and tell them as it is, is a rare political attribute and again demonstrates a man ready to selflessly risk much needed sponsorship in order to set his stall. Is this a man wanting political power ‘at all costs’ as claimed by the NDC? How?!

To refuse to avail himself of cheap prime government land whilst other ministers and officials indulged – because the law permitted such indulgence - is another clear example of Nana not being in politics for the money and opportunities on offer, but simply to serve a higher ideal of, service to the motherland. What more do you expect from him? At the IEA lectures, Nana categorically stated as follows: “I am determined to fight corruption aggressively, and I can do so, because I am not corrupt, have never been corrupt, and will demand the same of my team”!

Finally, Ghana's international democratic credentials were boosted in large dollops when in 2008 Nana conceded defeat to late Pres Mills whilst a candidate of the incumbent governing party and with a margin of defeat of only 0.05%. Pres Obama's visit to Ghana was a recognition of this selfless act by Nana, instead of leading the country into electoral unrest.

Comparison: [1] President Mahama has no record of political sacrifice as he was plucked from lofty offices in the private sector into the Vice Presidential office in 1998. [2] Pres Mahama has compromised morality at the alter of personal avarice and political expedience, in that he has been personally involved in shady deals like the Armajaro affair, as well as the botched STX Korea housing deal [3] Pres Mahama benefited from sideliners going by way of his brother – who now owns a private jet - and close friends in patently corrupt deals.

Visionary To achieve his vision of an industrialized Ghanaian economy, Nana aims to move Ghana away from the Guggisburg ‘raw material and end product consumer’ economy to a self sufficient manufacturing hub economy. First in line in this endeavour, in his visionary opinion, is the transformation of the educational sector, starting with the quality and motivation of the Teachers in schools. This is actually putting the horse before the cart and not the other way round. The recent alarming Cedi depreciation consequent upon the oil boom and increased revenue where imports far outstripped exports is a vindication of Nana’s vision. Pledging to bring free education up to SHS level to all is further evidence of his vision to make education the springboard to national socio-economic emancipation.

Comparison: Pres Mahama has no record worth mentioning in any role he’s been involved. If he has been in charge whilst Mills has been unavailable, as he has confirmed, then his record is one of allowing the status quo even if its one of decadence. Heavily indebting Ghana with numerous foreign loans, and flush with oil revenue, he has demonstrated no vision to reduce the nation’s dependency syndrome. ‘I leave it as I came and met it’ is his attitude, no wonder the Cedi is now in free fall and his vaunted single digit inflation figures laid bare and Dr Bawumia vindicated!

Youth Empowerment There are credible signs Nana values the role and participation of the youth in his team, campaign and likely government. From his choice of Mustapha Hamid in 2007 and still now, as his Spokesperson, through to the ‘boyish’ Herbert Krapa as his Press Officer, as well as the likes of Titus Glover, Abu Jinapor, Ursula Owusu and Curtis Perry Okudzeto, Anthony Karbo, John Boadu, and Sammy Awuku to mention but a few, the evidence is there. Then of course is his choice, as aforementioned, of the youthful Dr Bawumia as his running mate.

The difference between Nana’s youths and President Mills’/Mahama’s crop of youthful ministers and officers is the quality and style of Nana’s boys and girls. No foul mouthed, egotistic, ‘speak out of turn’ youths like Okudzeto Ablakwa, Fiif Kwetei, Koku Anyidoho, Kobby Acheampong et al to sully the creditable gesture of empowering and giving the youths opportunities in government. Then of course it depends on the leader and how he keeps his house in order, and Nana does keep a tight reign. For instance Nana said “A Woyome type scenario will not occur under an Akufo Addo administration”, whereas under Pres Mills, and John Mahama, culpable ministers are still at post as a result of the general lack of leadership in the continuous administration[s].

Comparison: Whereas on the surface Pres Mills/Mahama would appear to have given the youth opportunities, the fact is that this was done without due care and attention. They literally placed square pegs in round holes - a misfit, as evidenced in the uncouth language, undisciplined actions, and greedy, corrupt and poor management of their youth brigade of ministers. What Pres Rawlings termed "Children with sharp hard teeth". Pres Mahama has the opportunity to prove otherwise since assuming the presidency, but as proof of the regimes being a continuum and one and the same, he has seen no reason to reshuffle the pack. He brags that he is the first post independence president, but exemplified by his tolerating crass youth government appointees, his comparative youthfulness to Nana Akufo Addo is nothing to go by. It’s the quality of the youth not the fact of being a youth that matter.

Win at all cost: Nana is accused by the NDC as being desperate to win the elections at all costs whereas the evidence is contrary. In 2008 he conceded defeat to Mills with the margin at only 0.05% [40,000] whilst he was in the governing NPP party. He said he would always subjugate his personal interest to the national interest and avoid electoral violence. Nana has on several fora of potential sponsors, informed them not to finance him in expectation of being rewarded with lucrative contracts. He says wealth making is for business whilst politics and his administration is about service. By this stance he risked losing vital funds for his campaign and therefore demonstrated that he is not after power at any cost. Comparison; 1] In contrast, JDM's NDC from a recovered secret memo, actually have this as an official party policy. 2] JDM who wants to be president over all of \Ghana fanned ethnic sentiments in the North by shamelessly asking Northerners to vote for him simply because he is a Northerner. 3] JDM and his party have vainly tried to rubbish the NPP Free SHS policy simply because they cannot better it and realize its a vote winning policy 4] NDC have spent looted state monies, including the Woyome Judgment Debt fraud money, to lavish expensive 4x4 vehicle gifts to chiefs and Hyundai cars to student leaders in order to buy their votes. Which candidate and party then lives out the motto 'win at all costs'? The NDC and Pres Mahama of course!

Conclusion: Devoid of partisan politics, if the relative characteristics of the two leading contenders in the December 2012 elections were to be the sole deciding factors, Nana Akufo Addo would be a country mile ahead of his opponent, the incumbent President Mahama. President Mahama has amply demonstrated a complete lack of control over his and Mills’own appointees John Mahama says Mills gave him free reign during his tenure. Of the two candidates then, who exhibits firm but fair and exemplary leadership then? Your guess is as good as mine!

A developing nation like Ghana with its newly acquired oil wealth and the concomitant greed, crime, and high expectations that follows, require a leader with his wits about him and with the will and desire to lead by example and with decisiveness. Mahama falls flat on all these expectations, whereas Nana exudes all such attributes as substantiated above. THEREFORE, come tomorrow December 7th 2012, all persons who wish Ghana well have a clear choice to make: allow to continue in office a man totally out of his depth and tolerant of the rape and abuse of office and, of the nation. OR, vote in Nana, a man possessed of gilt edged qualities for the role of president, as evidenced in this article? No doubt the choice is clear to all who profess to love Ghana, and that choice is: NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO for president. Thank you.

By: Richard Dombo Diedong