Is Kufuor the bugbear for Akufo-Addo? (Part II)

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Interestingly, the genesis of Akufo-Addo’s problems in the NPP can be traced to this very Kufuor factor. For those who don’t know the truth about the disparity between both, let me cite some happenings to prove that the challenges facing Akufo-Addo in the NPP—not to talk about the entire country and beyond—are rooted in the Kufuor enigma. The NDC may be at the fringes, but the real killer punch comes from the NPP stables, probably on account of Akufo-Addo’s own miscalculations.

Here is one angle from history. At the congress of the NPP at the Sunyani Social Centre (an institution of the Catholic Church) to choose the flagbearer for the party at Election 1996, a lot happened to sow the seed of discord that has matured to bear the bitter fruit that Akufo-Addo can neither chew and swallow nor crunch and spew out in disgust.

Two instances as served me by my fertile memory elucidate it all. First, the delegates were corrupted to turn against Akufo-Addo, clearly because he had projected himself beyond what he really meant to the party at the time. Palm-greasing took the better part of happenings as the Kufuor camp doled out money to the delegates in the lavatory of the Social Centre to go for him. And they did so. Akufo-Addo didn’t take his loss in good faith and exploded in uncontrollable fumes and fuse!!

By reacting petulantly, he verbally assailed Kufuor to set the tone for ugly encounters thereafter. And the ugliness still persists, despite the public show of camaraderie by both. Interestingly, that bug has eaten deep into their followers too, which explains why the head-butting persists. If you doubt it, just take a deep breath and analyze comments from the Kufuor camp when the Akufo-Addo camp suspended Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong.

As for Sammy Crabbe, he is simply written off as a Ga who has no locus in the Danquah-Busia tradition to warrant any serious consideration. He must be chafing but if he reads between the lines, he shouldn’t. After all, he is what he is because someone created some space for him in the NPP camp. If he doubts it, he should just find out why Attoh Quarshie and other prominent Ga citizens aren’t buying into Akufo-Addo’s “wagadiri politics”.

The Mike Ocquayes and other hangers-on are toeing the line because they have nowhere else to go for their bread to be buttered. Such sell-outs are the NPP’s doom under Akufo-Addo. And because they know how to wash their hands, they can dine with all. These are the characters being used by Akufo-Addo.

Now, back to the train of thoughts on the enmity between Kufuor and Akufo-Addo. I am making my claim on account of first-hand information because I saw all that happened. Those NPP buffs who hate to be told the truth need to do more than they’ve been so far to undermine me when it comes to telling them the truth behind everything roguish about their political camp. We were there when a lot happened in the past and can recall moments to taunt them because that is what they deserve for choosing to do rogue and book politics.

I can confidently recall Akufo-Addo’s repudiating Kufuor in this harsh language to undermine his integrity: “If you call yourself a lawyer, tell us in whose chambers you practised”. In this repudiation, Akufo-Addo totally undermined Kufuor’s integrity; but Kufuor swallowed it all, biding his time to show Akufo-Addo where power lay in the workings of the NPP.

Of course, there had been apprehensions in the public sphere about Kufuor’s claim to be a lawyer. No record exists that he attended any law school, studied law as a professional path, and was certified as such. He majored in Economics in Oxford, even if he took courses bordering on law in economics. Somehow, though, his name often appeared on the Ghana Bar Association’s roll of Ghanaian lawyers in good standing. A loud and resounding “Hmmmmm” here.

Does this insult point to Akufo-Addo’s own al-Houdini image as far as certification for law practice in Ghana is concerned? He still claims his qualifying certificate is lost even though the Honourable Society of Middle Temple didn’t issue him any certificate to boast of!! One day, surely, it will all be bared. Probably, when he is no more capable of soaking up the pressure. I am waiting for that moment!! Where are his buffs to insult me?

Thus, Akufo-Addo’s insinuation hit hard, which stung Kufuor, even if he didn’t make any public demonstration of that pain. He soaked it up and found a way to work it into his scheme of affairs, especially when Lady Fate smiled on him to become Ghana’s President at Election 2000.

I shall return…

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