The Negative And Looming Side Of An NPP Downfall

Whenever one writes an article to criticize the negative aspect of the work of a party, he or she is considered an enemy. Criticism does not mean a death sentence. It corrects a wrong and thus avoids an embarrassment to the government in power. Whoever invented the freedom of speech act should always be praised for such an invention.

In the past year, there have been many reports about some negative practices of some NPP luminaries by the Lens, Chronicle and other newspapers. Whenever these articles are published on Ghanaweb, the writer/publisher's credibility is always put into question. Eventually Ghanaweb becomes the enemy of the NPP for publishing lies. Ghanaweb is an open medium where the audience hears two sides of a story and they will judge for themselves, the truth and the lies. A site of that sort can never be considered publishing lies when it has evidence to back up every single allegation published. In fact the government can use it to their advantage just as the Lens and other newspapers are doing.

In the past, I heard through various sources that the NPP government does not like Ghanaweb because of various articles published which were considered untrue. Because of the love and respect for our President and being the father of our country presently, it was disheartening that Ghanaweb had a bad name in the office of the President and some high-ups in the NPP.

In January, during the inauguration, Ghanaweb decided to go to Ghana and be a part of the inauguration supporting the President and his government on such an occasion. There were some in the NPP circles and many in the Diaspora who supported this effort and we are very grateful once again for that. Some officials in NY connected me to various ministers because they appreciate the kind of work Ghanaweb does and some ministers I met were very receptive but vented their frustrations about articles Ghanaweb published about the government which were untrue. Some explanations were made for the officials to understand that Ghanaweb was non partisan and stuck on its open for all policy. It is for the sake of democracy that all sides are heard and that includes the government. No one should be left out.

I feel that it is fair for everyone to judge whether Ghanaweb is the enemy or those bad apples who are bringing our dear president and his government and his party in general a disgrace. We respect the seat of the government and any minister who has sworn an oath of allegiance to take our country to prosperity. Unfortunately various bad deals/corruption/greed are coming from left and right while the people of the country are crying "Petrol buo aye den" and the economy is not as it has been put, ?in the right direction " .

NPP proved to the masses that they needed a second chance and the people voted them into power. But as time goes on, some in the Diaspora including various NPP members have expressed their frustration that they are not happy with the series of events that have arisen and that if something is not done about it, then may be the next government would be another party. Mark my words, the Ghanaian people would speak on Election Day 2008.

The following allegations were reported by various sources in the media. These allegations whether true or not are very worrying to Ghanaians around the world. When these articles were published on the open for all medium, Ghanaweb, there were no rebuttals from the government for the audience to hear both sides of the coin.

• Kufuor's Friends Chop As He Pines - Ghanaian Chronicle, 4 May 2005
• Afra Airlines Rebuttal Of National Security Report - CEO Afra Airlines Ltd, 4 May 2005
• Obetsebi-Lamptey - Brain Behind Sham Railway Divestiture? The Mystery Begins To Unravel

• Palaver, 1 May, 2005
• Edumadze "419's" Upper Denkyira women, Chronicle, 29 April 2005,
• Mormon-GIA taking food from mouth of Ghanaians - CHRONICLE, 29 April 2005
• United Rail: Financer/shareholder is non-existent - GHP, 29 April 2005
• Anane Will Send Us All To Jail & Exile, Chronicle, 27 April 2005
• Confirmed: GIA Is A Bogus Deal - Statesman, 26 April 2005
• Scandal Looming At Chief Of Staff's Office, Jean Y. T. Lukaz, 20 April 2005
• Off-Loading Our Railways To A Ghost Company? Lens, 25 March 2005
• JJ's doctorate put on hold - Chronicle, 14 March 2005
• Railways Sale Wahala -Ghana man cries foul - Chronicle, 7 March 2005
• Gov't Indicted Over "Chinese Barber Loan" Palaver, May 28th, 2004

• Scandal Over Railways Divestiture -Alfred Ogbamey for Gye Nyame Concord, 14 September 2004
• Ghanair Partners: "419" Company? Chronicle, 3 September 2004
• Where's The CNTCI Loan? Palaver, 5 November 2004
• Minister Slaps Assembly Guard, GNA, 6 January 2005

• Railnet asks Minister to come clean -
• NPP Goes For Another "Scam" Financial Transaction! - Palaver, 1 March 2005

Some of the presumed headlines published on Ghanaweb involving officials from the government and whether truth or lies, one would expect the Government to act and explain why certain officials were not performing to par and involving in dubious practices. Instead, Ghanaweb becomes the target because the stories have been published on their site but the source is on the contrary. Some officials see no credibility in the story and would ignore it.

The sad thing is that ignoring them means those allegations may be true and gives the masses the impression that the government is not performing up to par. There are two sides to every story, the truth and the lies. If we hear the presumed lies then the truth should come from those the stories have been attributed to but the audience hears nothing from any ministry in the government and that is very very sad.

Imagine various allegations of this sort, published against the President of the United States or any high official by the media, you will see his spokesperson will be on the defensive or hear a rebuttal immediately explaining to the public what they need to know. That is what should happen on Ghanaweb from the Government.

The President must make a decision and should not give the impression that he is a lame duck president and whatever goes on is his "back case". He must change perceptions and act in a manner which would not put him in an awkward situation. Ghanaians elected him to power and the same Ghanaians would bring his party down through the ballot box.

Again, if those allegations published, are not answered then the NPP should kiss 2008 good bye.

A word to the wise is enough. This is democracy once again in the highest degree.