Kufuor rejects Akufo-Addo; leaves him in a lurch

New Patriotic Party all-time best leader and former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has opined what could best be described as a profound political science theory which would serve as a guide to Ghanaians as they line-up to cast their votes in the 2016 presidential election when he blame age for the late Nelson Mandela ’s average performance as former South African President.

Obviously shooting down a possible third term bid for his party’s twice defeated presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is rumored to be preparing to contest the presidency for the third time at an advanced age of 73, President Kufuor cited the dwindling fortunes of South Africa under the great anti-apartheid leader to the advanced age at which he was elected President.

Late Nelson Mandela was 76 when he was elected as the first black President of South Africa, just three years older than Nana Akufo-Addo should the latter decide to contest and was to win the 2016 election; and that was after serving 27 years in jail following his fight against apartheid.

His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation; and this many of his critics say accounted for worsening hardship in South Africa, especially among the blacks.

But whiles eulogizing and paying glowing tribute to the fallen hero whom he referred to as a ‘saint’, former president Kufuor did not mince words when he recounted the sordid economic fortunes of the rainbow nation under the late Nelson Mandela’s presidency (1994-1996.)

“Former President Nelson Mandela , to me is a saint. His call to eternity is a great loss not only to South Africa or to Africa, but to the whole wide world. All humanity must be in mourning.”

He said: “I am deeply saddened at the passing away of President Mandela, he was a great man of peace, a believer of reconciliation and a unifier …, you know he was already advance in age before becoming president, and not much can be said of his presidency”.

According to former President Kufuor; “his idea of a rainbow society, after his long and cruel incarceration in prison for his stance against apartheid, has seen all races co-exist peacefully in South Africa and has inured to the benefit of that country”.

Mr. Kufuor said he had the privilege of meeting the peace and reconciliation icon three times and noticed his humble demeanour and how "he would crack a joke, smile and you would see a twinkle in his eyes."

With this latest theory, which obviously means the country too would suffer drawbacks if Ghanaians elect an ‘olu’ president, it is however not clear if former President Kufuor would campaign for Nana Akufo-Addo, who would by then be in his seventies if he is given a third time nod to represent the NPP in the 2016 presidential elections.

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela died last Thursday at age 95. He led South Africa's transition from the white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison.

He had been receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after been in and out of hospital. Tributes from all over the world have been pouring in for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and one of the world's most revered statesmen. Mandela would be buried on Sunday, December 15, 2013.