Is the NPP now looking for decency in public utterances?

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Folks, the NPP is reported to have "petitioned the National Media Commission (NMC) over what it calls unethical broadcasting at Montie FM, an affiliate station of Accra-based Radio Gold." Its reason?

1. Through its Director of Communications (Nana Akomea), the NPP accused Montie FM which transmits on 100.1 MHz and its host of the ‘Pampaso’ afternoon political talk programme (Mugabe Maase) of unprofessional conduct. The party accused the station of embarking on vicious libelous attacks on its leaders.

2. Mugabe "was recently quoted as having told some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the United Kingdom that the presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would die by June 2016." (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/NPP-drags-Montie-FM-to-NMC-415735)

Folks, here we are with the concentrated and dangerous hypocrisy of the NPP, a political cabal that has enjoyed the backing of private FM stations, especially Kennedy Agyapong and his Oman FM that is notorious for its negative politics against the NDC and President Mahama. For what hasn't that Oman FM been used to boost the NPP's rogue politics? Who in the NDC has dragged that station to the NMC or court?

And there are many other pro-NPP media (print or electronic) that are notorious for their anti-Mahama politics. Has anybody so maligned by them gone the way the NPP is going now? Why does the NPP feel hurt to go this way?

Why is the NPP now complaining? If someone says that Akufo-Addo will die by June 2016, should the NPP people wail, gnash their teeth, and weep this way? Is that person's mouth "a gun"? Or are they scared that something sinister will be done to snuff out their Kapwepwe? If so, why not report Mugabe to the police for investigation to determine how he got to know the exact date of Akufo-Addo's death and how he would die? After all, though, an evil wish for someone like Akufo-Addo isn't strange in Ghanaian politics.

Have these NPP people forgotten the prophecies of doom from their most-cherished Rev. Owusu Bempah that President Mahama would die (after Election 2012) if the election petition hearing by the Supreme Court went against Akufo-Addo? Or his spreading of rumours that the Asantehene (Otumfuo Osei Tutu II) had died in South Africa?

How about the numerous instances of wanton use of such pro-NPP media to torment the government? What has the NPP done about the slanderous publications by the Daily Guide newspaper and Kwaku Baako's New Crusading Guide about President Mahama and his family, let alone the entire NDC establishment? Did the NPP even complain about indecency in such instances?

How about the wanton disparaging of former President Mills as a “poodle” on the leash of Jerry Rawlings? Or of Rawlings himself as a murderer? Or of President Mahama as “incompetent”, a depraved womanizer, and the leader of the government’s “create, loot, and share” brigade (Whatever it means to them)? Or that President Mahama has a hand in the death of Prof. Mills?

Clearly, the NPP is more guilty of the very offence for which its leaders have rushed to the NMC to seek redress. Only the NPP people feel that their personal integrity should be unassailable because they consider themselves as inferior to none but superior to all other Ghanaians. Such characters!!

Only when the ball is put back in their court do they react—and react so foolishly as if when they squeeze other people's balls, there shouldn't be any feeling of pain? Or no need to seek redress? When will these NPP ever learn to play the political game fairly? When they use the media to attack others and wish evil for them, it is well and good; but all hell must break loose when they are put on the line?

Having already declared (through Sammy Awuku) that they would match any detractor of their sacred cow (Akufo-Addo) tongue-to-tongue, why are they now scared at the first volleys being fired at them? Did they not know the value of the NMC before declaring that intent and purpose for the wordy warfare? In any case, is that how they intend to conduct their electioneering campaign and win hearts and thumbs for Election 2016?

Once they’ve sown the wind of indecency in public utterances, they shouldn’t run away from harvesting the whirlwind that it begets.

Folks, do you see how these NPP people behave? Living in a glass house and throwing stones but running away from the impact? Indeed, there is a lot wrong with this political cabal. A very loud and resounding "Tweeeeeeeeeaa" to them!!

I shall return…

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