Mills rattles NPP with the State of the Nation Address =NDC UK & Ireland

NDC UK & Ireland –

President Mills rattles NPP with the State of the Nation Address

“The President did not tell his detractors how he sympathises with them, but his juxtapositions sent them running for cover”

It is almost a week since His Excellency, President John Evans Atta Mills, gave the State of The Nation Address to Parliament spelling out his government’s policy guidelines and strategies to further accelerate socio-economic development in the country. Also, it was traditionally a major opportunity to project His Excellency’s leadership on the African continent and on the world stage.

However, this year’s State of the Nation Address has weirdly been overshadowed by post partisan political rhetoric from the main opposition party NPP and sections of the news media. Ladies and gentlemen, in tackling the substance of the State of the Nation Address, we ask the following pertinent questions:

• Firstly, we need to know what was good about the President’s State of the Nation Address.

• Secondly, we discuss why the learned Professor’s use of anthethises to communicate his messages rattled the opposition?

• Thirdly, why has the Presidential Address attracted partisan political rhetoric?

• And finally, what role has the media played in the rhetoric?

Ladies and gentlemen, the good thing about the President Mills’ speech was that it was pitched to reflect the aspirations of the electorates who matter. It was not directed at some political pundits and MPs who had mud- balls ready to throw and wanted the least opportunity to waive their muddy T shirts and placards in their sacred house of disrepute. Like members of the synagogue of the Freedmen, they were ready to crucify even before the President addressed them.

The contents of the speech were driven towards the transformation of the economy for accelerated growth and job creation. With a lot of focus on human development, the President presented his agenda on health and health infrastructure, education, road discipline, employment, agriculture, expansion of water supply, energy, women and governance, corruption, and how the government could provide a helping hand to the people. The notable bold initiatives were establishment of three economic zones, in addition to SADA, to reduce spatial and income inequality.

The President once again wrong footed those detractors agitating for 10% of the oil revenue for the Western Region. The establishment of the Western Corridor Development Authority would ensure the people of the region benefit directly from the national cake. These new developmental initiatives drew applause and cheers not only from the NDC parliamentary caucus but also the Ghanaian populace, as the president laid out a forceful projection of his government’s performance over the coming year.

The President said the ongoing work on the Accra Plains Irrigation Project to irrigate about 5000 hectares of land were far advanced; improving the storage capacity of the National Buffer Stock Company from 34000 to 64000 metric tonnes this year would provide additional food security for the country.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President during the first two-thirds of his speech did not touch on any conservative themes that would disturb the nerves of his detractors – the opposition party waiting to pounce on any issue - until the learned Professor’s great use of anthethises to communicate his messages on national security and pubic safety, war on drugs, law and order. The revelations rattled the NPP caucus in parliament to the core.

The threat to unleash the national security on any person or group of persons who threaten national peace and security, the re-opening of investigation into the MV Benjamin cocaine saga and the re-investigating the murder of those 38 or so women made some commentators and members of the opposition want to pull their hair out. They were gripped with fear and discomfort over the prospect of what a presidential inquiry would reveal. Bearing in mind that their flag bearer had previously threatened the peace and stability of the country and therefore the likely first contestant to go on the red alert list; we were not amused at all by their reactions.

The questions we ask are:

• Why panic and throw tantrums if they know their hands are clean of cocaine dust from the MV Benjamin?

• Why panic if they confidently believed they have no hands in those murders the President seeks to re-investigate?

In a glaring and apparent reference to Nana Akufo Addo’s unfortunate and irresponsible war mongering remarks; the President did not shy away from taking a clear and unequivocal stand: Indeed, the President served notice that he will stamp his authority on any individual or groups who use selfish interests to disturb the peace which Ghanaians have enjoyed for so long.

“Madam Speaker, as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, and having sworn to protect the integrity of mother Ghana, I have put security agencies on red alert and they are under strict instructions to deal decisively within the ambit of the law with anybody or group of persons who will attempt to disturb the peace and stability of this dear nation of ours. We will not sit idly by and allow some persons to throw this country into a state of chaos just to satisfy their self-centered and inordinate political desires.”

It is clear that this did not go down well with the opposition in parliament who snapped back angrily, heckling and shouting. It is a case of “Who the cap fits let them wear it”. The President is by now accustomed to these sorts of childish behaviours from our so called law makers.

Nana Akufo Addo’s desperation to play tribal politics by whipping up tribal sentiments among the electorates, with his infamous “we Akans” phrase did not escape the President’s attention either. We should not use political differences to divide our communities.

“Madam Speaker, ………………….

No one group is superior to the others; we are one people with a common destiny so we must forge ahead with a united sense of purpose of building a nation that this generation and future generations will be proud of.

And let no one think that inciting or priming others for violence is the way to determine the outcome of elections.

This country has come too far to travel down that road again.

The foundation we have laid for peace, stability and for the building of a better Ghana will endure”.

“It is easy to find differences but we can never allow them to become divisions.” Rahm Emanuel elected mayor of Chicago

Not long afterwards, the opposition flag bearer, Nana Akufo Addo, held a press conference at a Hotel in Ho in the Volta Region to proclaim that he does not want a single drop of blood to be spilled for him to become president. He claimed he stood for peace and unity. Who is he kidding? How could one incite a community in ones stronghold asking them to use violence against the other and then go to the incumbent’s heartland to explain oneself? Cor…. Blimey!!!!! What a botched communication strategy. The “little man” of NPP is now for turning. The President’s response has forced Nana Akufo Addo to beat the retreat. How can we be safe in our communities and homes if this indecisive man ever becomes a President?

Speaking forcefully and with authority, the President firmly pitched his “Ghana will not die” statement towards Nana Addo’s unfortunate and irresponsible phrase: Let-all-die-be-die” “Madam Speaker, Ghana will not die; Ghana will live to proclaim the glory of God.” The President in contrast, seems to be saying to Akuffo Addo, “Not that I love Caesar less, but I love Rome more” Mr President truly, you love Ghana more. Ghana will not die, under any particular leadership. We will not rest our oars until we move the country out of the murky waters and the economic mess that the NPP left behind.

The odd thing that happened after the President’s speech was how dramatic and confrontational things became. The usual post partisan political rhetoric went far beyond our comprehension. The opposition may disagree with certain aspects of the President’s agenda, actions and inactions. However, tradition and custom demand that the August House accord the First Gentlemen of the land due respect. We watched with shock and dismay the Minority Leader, the inward looking and arrogant Kyei-Mensah Bonsu break parliamentary convention by refusing to escort the president out of the Chambers. Apparently, in protest over the President’s failure to acknowledge the presence of ex-president Kuffour and the Chief Justice. This individual attitude was a dereliction of parliamentary duty and a gross disrespect to the Presidency and to the Sword of the State, the symbol of Authority from which he, arrogant and pitiful Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, derives his livelihood.

The President in his humility and modesty apologised to the personalities involved when officials drew his attention to the slip .But back in 2001, the then President Kuffour during his first State of the Nation Address, let slip under similar situation by not acknowledging the presence of ex- President Jerry Rawlings. When his attention was drawned, what did he do? He shrugged his shoulders, and moved on with his “carry on cowboy” attitude. The action of President Mills, in contrast to ex- President Kuffour, tells us that the learned professor is indeed a modest statesman and Asomdwehene

As the news cycle begins to analyse the President’s speech, what became all too clear was the biased reporting coming from sections of the news media. Indeed, our worry is that political reporting in Ghana today has ceased to be pluralist and its style, honesty and seriousness of intent has changed and skewed. Broadcasters’ agendas are set by the anti government press. Serial callers follow their lead, often making reasoned argument inaudible above the clamour. What we see today is an ill- informed and superficial reporting, which presently reflect too often in the debasement of journalism in our dear country. At times, the media and certain commentators set the agenda and seem to create the political instability that is beginning to engulf our dear nation.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is therefore in this context that the President called on all to subscribe to the rule of law and free speech. He said “the media has a huge responsibility in the effort we must all make to encourage rational exchanges among reasonable people with different views……… We must not always find fault with other; sometimes it also helps to tell stories about Ghanaian rising to the occasion…….Political stability, he said is the gift of political discipline by all actors”.

“Madam Speaker, the draft Broadcasting Bill has been too long on the drawing board. It is time to consider seriously its enactment to help control the excesses that sometimes characterize exchanges in the electronic media.

My expectations are that when the time comes, the debate on its provisions will not fall into predictable patterns of partisan disclosure.”

In every respect, the State of the Nation Address actually tapped into the mood of the country. The President’s speech acknowledged that times are still hard, but the mood of the country is better now than it was under the 8 years of NPP administration. Overall, the President came across as a modest statesman, comfortable, confident and engaging.

God bless our Homeland Ghana

Alex Seshie-Vanderpuije,

Public Relations Officer

NDC UK & Ireland Chapter

28 February 2011