NDC flip flop over Akufo-Addo

It appeared there was an ambivalent attitude exhibited by officials of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) towards the magnanimous concession of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo immediately after the Supreme Court verdict on the election petition last Thursday.

Some leading members of NDC whilst gleefully commending Nana Akufo-Addo for graciously conceding to President John Dramani Mahama after the verdict to ensure peace and unity, also chastised the 2012 presidential candidate of the main opposition NPP for wasting precious time in court.

Immediately after the highest court of the land had dismissed the petition by three leading members of NPP, the first petitioner Nana Akufo-Addo called President John Dramani Mahama on phone, to congratulate him and accepted defeat in the 2012 presidential election.

Officially accepting the Supreme Court’s ruling at his Nima residence in Accra, Nana Akufo-Addo said that, “While I disagree with the court’s decision, I accept it. I accept that what the court says brings finality to the election dispute. We shall not be asking for a review of the verdict, so we can all move on in the interest of our nation.”

Subsequently, the Greater Accra Chairman of the ruling NDC, Joseph Ade Coker described Nana Akufo-Addo as a true statesman.

“For the first time a precedent has been set; for a losing presidential candidate was able to call his opponent within seconds after election,” Ade Coker acknowledged on Adom FM’s “Dwaso Nsem” morning show last Friday.

According to Ade Coker, Nana Akufo-Addo will now take the posture of a statesman for his actions after the court’s verdict.

“I doff my heart to Nana Akufo-Addo for showing such maturity and commitment when the court affirmed President Mahama as the president of Ghana,” Ade Coker said.

Speaking on the same programme, NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia (aka General Mosquito) also applauded Nana Akufo-Addo for calling to congratulate President Mahama on his affirmation as the validly elected president of Ghana.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo deserved congratulations for endorsing democracy.

However, General Mosquito made a surprise u-turn in the evening of the same day on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, stating rather belligerently that the petitioners especially Nana Akufo-Addo deserved no praise.

He described the petition as a complete waste of time and resource because the country had incurred more debt as a result of the live coverage and ensuring security at the court.

Disagreements

Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako described Aseidu Nketia’s double-talk as mischievous.

Virtually taking NDC scribe to the cleaners on Joy FM’s weekly analysis current affairs programme, Newsfile on Saturday, Mr. Baako said the comments made by General Mosquito contradicted the efforts by both President Mahama and opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo to consolidate peace in the country.

According to him, General Mosquito’s comments could rather disturb the deserved peace the nation was enjoying, adding that he “will not dignify it (Asiedu Nketia’s comments)” with a response.

Nana Ato Dadzie, a member of the NDC legal team and a former Chief of Staff in the ex-President Rawlings-led administration, also disagreed with Aseidu Nketia, praising Nana Akufo-Addo for acting in a manner that had deepened democracy in Ghana.

As a member of the legal team for President Mahama and NDC, first and third respondents respectively in the petition, Nana Ato Dadzie described Nana Akufo-Addo’s acceptance of the judgment as a “fantastic statement” which “will advance democracy”.

Also speaking on the same programme, a former Attorney-General, Joseph Ayikoi Otoo expressed disappointment over Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision not to seek a review of the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court.

According to the former Attorney-General, Nana Akufo-Addo had a mathematical chance to mount a challenge on one of the rulings by the judges, which also generated controversy.

Nonetheless, Mr. Ayikoi Otoo commended Nana Akufo-Addo for “dousing the flame” in order to protect the peace of the nation.

NPP Politics

The Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide also slammed sentiments expressed by Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, F.F. Anto, accusing Nana Akufo-Addo of taking a unilateral decision to accept the judgment.

The NPP leader, he pointed out, publicly pledged to accept the outcome of the petition and that Nana Akufo-Addo conceded in fulfilment of that pledge.

Mr. Baako said even though it would have been proper for Nana Addo to consult the party hierarchy before announcing his decision that would have taken a longer time and could have created further tension in the nation.