A vote for Mills is a vote for Rawlings (II)

A VOTE FOR MILLS IS A VOTE FOR RAWLINGS - Part 2. Yaw Bannor.

My dear fellow Ghanains, I wish to extend my warmest holiday greetings to each and every one. I wish every one, a safe holiday season, as we take time from our busy schedules to be with our love ones, and family. Undoubtedly, we will be reflecting on many important issues in our lives, and in our country as well, amidst the holiday cheers. In deed, All Ghanains have more to think about in this holiday season, than just "merry-making", because the Dec 7 presidential elections, did not offer a clear winner (ie. 50% plus 1). The ruling NPP government candidate, the fromer Foreign Minister and Attorney General, Nana Akufo-Addo, won 49%, while the NDC flagbearer, former Vice-President, Prof Atta Mills won 47%. It should be noted the opposition NDC, gained more seats at the parliamentay level. (Let me note briefly here that, there are growing discordant choruses, unhappy about the manner of assignment of parliamentary seats to some regions, which appears to be at the expense of more populous regions. The thorny issue of control of parliament, however, requires a careful review of the constitution, which the reader should be reminded, was hoisted on Ghanaians, by the Rawlings/Mills NDC. I promise to revisit the issue of parliamentary-seats assignment in a future article).

At the moment, the poignant issue at hand, is the presidential election. On Dec 28, we will be heading back to the polls, for a run-off presidential election, between the NPP candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, the former Foreign Minister, and Attorney General in Pres. Kuffour administration, and the NDC candidate, Prof Atta Mills, the former Vice-President of the Rawlings regime, which transitioned from the murderous/chaotic/perilous AFRC hunta, and the chaotic/much-maligned PNDC.

Perhaps, the Dec 28 run-off election is the most significant watershe election in our life time, in our growing democracy. Who ever wins the run-off election, will determinine not just the political course, and economic stability (or lack thereof), of our nation, but more importantly, a re-affirmation of how we relate to each other. We need to show to each other that we are not just a collection of people thrown together by the former British colonial power, but a real cohesive poeple, united under the unfurled banner of "justice and freedom". I look forward to a day when, words like JUSTICE, FREEDOM, INDEPENDENCE, CIVILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, are not mere slogans/words, but rather fundamental IDEALS, and cheerished CREED, that trump any tribal affiliations, and "clings" to pseudo-revolutionary zealots, who masquerade, among us, as political savior of the unsuspecting proliterates.

The old adage hold true here, again: "Beware of political opportunism" .Those who promised the gullible masses to lift them out of poverty, have now developed "ground-hugging-beer-bellies", acquired chaffeur-driven-bullet prof jaquars, and expensive, imported SUVs, with the finest upholstery, and latest excesses, modern auto-industry officianado, can offer. The pseudo-revulutonaries, who killed others like Air-Force Yaw Boaky for MERELY borrowing the equivalent of $1500 from the bank, now have LOADED "dollar and pound sterling" bank accounts, tucked away in secrete off-shore bank accounts. The leadership of the "revolution" that demanded of ordinary Ghanaians at "AK-47-combat-weapon-gun-point", to declare their assets, for merely, yes, merely, having a house with "TWO TOILETS", now live in $300 to $800,000 mansions, in exclusive, armed-guarded, gated communities. Guess what happened to the poor in Ghana? To sum up, the nation went BANKRUPT, and ad to file for HIPC. The leadership of the mayhem, and the diabolical AFRC and the distasteful PNDC hunta, has been out of power for nearly eight years, and hungry for more money and power, and is hiding behind Prof Mills, to carry its "water" for them. It is one of the reasons, Rawlings is in such maddeningly restless, and frantic haste, to get his protege Prof Mills elected, to regain assess to the fortunes of the nation, and quash, the economic gains, and political freedoms, we now liberally enjoy.

It is against the above background, that caused me to pen, in the first artcle, "A vote for Mills, is a vote for Rawlings", which received nearly 400 responses, (including emails), both pro and con. Judging from the responses, I surmised, a sizable portion of our electorate, need claification on the salient issues raised, in the article.

1. I have favorable opinion of Prof Mills as an intellectual, statesman, national tax expert, and his service to our nation as former Vice-President. I will not mind to call him friend, or consider him as a potential leader of the nation, EXCEPT for one reason: and to put it mildly, Mills is not INDEPENDENT of Rawlings, or bluntly, a STOOGE of Rawlings. Mills was handpicked by Rawlings at Swedru Declaration, over and above other potentials in the NDC, such Kweisi Botchwey, the former Economic Minister, Spio Garbah(?), Gen Erskine-R, and Obed Asamoah, now a founding member of DFP. Mills therefore owns his position, in the NDC, to Rawlings. Hence, he is susceptible to the whims and demands of the Rawlingses. If you disagree, just remember Mills initially declined to attend the Kuffour-Bush Presidential state dinner, when he (Mills) was warned by Rawlings not to accept the invitation, only to latter decry why he did not receive his tickets in time to attend the state dinner, after Rawlings changed his mind to be present at the dinner, after all. Again, consider Mills behavior at Kuffour presidental medal awards. Mills initially agreed to be present, but when warned by Rawlings not to accept the award, he declined Kuffours' invitation. Mills may be far worse than a STOOGE of Rawlings. Foot stool? Whipping Boy? Go figure! While we desire a president who will listen to reason, we do not want a president who, quickly folds to the dictates of others. No creadible student of Ghanaian politics will assert, Nana Akufo-Addo, is INDEPENDENT of President Kuffuor.

2. On the issue of JUSTICE, I have painstainkenly searched availlable databases, (including Ghana web), and have not come across a single statement, memo or article by the legal scholar, Prof Mills, relating to the multiple murders of his colleagues of the bench, namely Justices Cecilia Korangten Addo, Adjepong, and Sarkodie, and Major Sam Acquah-R. These illustrous and highly visible judges were plucked from their homes, and burnt, bludgeoned to death by members of the AFRC government, which, morphed to become the p/NDC, which Mills now lead. Mills has said precious little about these attrocities. Mills job, if he becomes president, will include, SECURITY, of the entire nation, both prominent and ordinary, citizens. If Mills, a professor of law, a legal giant, will not question, what happened to his "colleagues of the bench", how can people the rest of us, trust him to protect us, when the mayhem is revisited upon us by Rawlings co-horts, or any other perverse group. So untill, the learned professor put pen to paper to explain his views on the multiple, barbaric murders of his colleague, A VOTE FOR MILLS IS A BETHRAYAL OF JUSTICE.

3. Some of the readers raised fair questions about the general security atmosphere in Ghana, specifically, the spateeee of ARMED ROBBERY. Others queried about what Nana akuffo-Addo did about the massacre at Ya Na compound, the recent blood shed in Volta, Kumawu and Ga Mantse violent paramount disputes. It should be pointed out that, as a nation, we should regret the loss of all innocent lives. The reader should know that the referrenced incidents, were purely perrennial CHIEFTANCY issues, and no credible person can assert that President Kuffour or his senior advisors were involved. I can personnaly attest to Kumawu chieftaincy dispute, which has ocassionaly turned violent has spawned over 35 years. Indeed, there are many chieftaincy disputes brewing in Ghana, that may ERUP under any government, not neccesaary 'fanned' by the authorities. (Remember the Nanumba-Kokomba violent disputes which claimed far more lives occurred under watch of the NDC government). Having said that, Nana Akufo-Addo and Kuffour's adminidtration can probe further into these destectable acts of violence, to put the lid on the general security situation, and violent regional "royal" issues. So on the issues of security, namely ARMED ROBBERY, and violent regional CHIFTAINCY disputes, Ghanaians demand more ACCOUNTABILITY from both NDC and NPP governments. Now all students of Ghanaian politics should become properly schooled, and not confuse Ya-Na, Volta, Nanumba-Kokomba, Kumawu, etc chieftancy violence, with the "Judges" massacre which were staged by high level government officials, including Col. Kojo Tsikata, because the judges opinions were unfavorable to the Rawlings AFRC. Apples and Oranges?. Nevertheless, we need more ACCOUNTABILITY and probing into all violent acts, from our elected officials, and not brushed under the rug.

4. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, may have penned the national creed as FREEDOM and JUSTICE, but in all fairness, and the risk of revealing my bias, I give His Excellency President Kuffour, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his NPP goverment, the due credit of FREEDOM of the press. Nana Akufo-Addo, led the repeal of the criminal libel laws, as the Attorney General. One taxi cab driver said it best, "under Kuffour, I don't have to worry about what I say. I don't have to watch my back, and see who is listening". In deed, our many FM stations, and TV stations, are free to offer their commentaries. Such FREEDOMS, has NEVER been enjoyed by Ghanaians under any government to date. There are well documented cases under both the dictatorial Nkrumah, and maniacal Rawlings p/NDC regimes, harrassing, and murdering journalists, and in some cases their entire families, who dare to offer dissenting views. The recent death of a prominent journalist in Kumasi, the assistant Chair, of Ashanti Regional Journalist association, remians unsolved, but all indications point to a random violence, since the journalist in question, had no beef with the Kuffour government, and had not written any critical reviews of the NPP government.

I have no doubt Nana Akufo-Addo, will continue to champion press FREEDOMS, since he led the repeal of the criminal libel law, a requisite of every civilized culture. There is undeniable desire to live freely, think freely, and express one views freely, without repproach. Any government which seeks to trample on such rights, is unfit to govern the affairs of others. NPP governnment, with Nana Akufo-Addo, has championed the PRESS FREEDOMS we enjoy, today. Do not deny Nana your vote on Dec 28.

5..Finally, on the issue of CIVILITY, no government has treated Ghanaians will more CIVILITY, gentility and accorded all citizens, the due process of the law than the "gentle-giant", Kuffours' NPP government, with Nana Akufo-Addo as one term Attorney General. Nana Akufo-Addo, no doubt will continue the same mode of CIVILITY, and accord due process of the law even to the vilest offenders. Even Tsatsu Tsikata, has received far better treatment from NPP government, than the thousands of those who faced the Rawlings' Public Tribunal, for owning two toilets in their house.

So if the fundamental issues FREEDOM, JUSTICE, INDEPENDENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY and CIVILITY are important to you, please consider the candidacy of Nana Akufo-Addo, and Vote for him. Nana is better, and less riskier choice than Mills.

Yaw Bannor kumasiabrantea@hotmail.com