NPP always on the wrong side of history

A flash back

The NPP has always wanted to convince everyone that they have been and are victims of discrimination from tribalism, or envy, jealousy over the years . Some one wrote an article to the effect that “ things to come casts its shadow”, when he talks about the incarceration of Ken Kurachie . A lot of ink has gone on about the justification or not about the action of contempt . I am not about to delve into that but to try to see if we can take a look through the lens of the NPP and its history .

We see Ken Kurachie being portrayed a” hero and a victim”, of the continuing persecution of a certain group of people. Little or nothing is said about Mr Atubiga who was also incarcerated. Ken Kurachie is thus said to have been ‘victimized “purely based on his tribe. Worse he is imprisoned at HO the capital of the Volta region, home of ‘ trokosi haters and jealous people” . What could be worse ?

Let us revisit history . When the NPP lost the elections in the colonial era they never accepted the losses. They even went to the UK to protest them . After june 4th certain leaders were executed for corruption and among them were Afrifa and Kutu Acheampong . We had the Odartey wellingtons, Bob Koteis, Amedumes, Utukas, Roger feli s, Major Collisons, . But when they write they make it as if it was only people from a certain tribe that was targeted. Makola market in the heart of Accra was bombed but when they write they make it as if it is only the B A Mensahs and tata brewery’s Siaw who only were targeted. The truth being tax evasion was pervasive and some of the instruments used were under invoicing and over invoicing. Most developing countries suffer from this . Even foreign exchange is diverted through a process of” asset swap” . Hence the country does not get to use the foreign exchange it has earned and since it must import, the currency gets debased leading to high inflation and impoverisation of the person in the street. That was the era of kalabule , “kalab”, for short . That was the reason for the MUTINY by junior officers and other ranks .They viewed their superior officers as accessories.

Why does the NPP then, always cry foul especially based on tribal grounds? It is a known fact the NPP was birthed through tribal organizations, NLM , popularly known as ma te me ho , which was not only tribal but also violent . Its aim was to promote tribal domination over others as the Brits had used them for their indirect rule. They were local overlords and wanted this formalized . Then was the NPP from the North led by Chief Dombo who wanted a fair treatment of development for the Northern peoples. Then there was the freedom party of the Volta region who wanted to unite with Togo and the Ga faction with no known ideology . It is obvious from the start when they became the United party they had no coherent ideology and opposed for the sake of opposition. Thus they embarked on a massive disinformation strategy preying on the vulnerability of the Ghanaians. One that sticks out most was that Dr Sekou Nkrumah when he was born had three heads. The then president was forced to have a photo session with the media to quell the vicious rumor

The then President Dr Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah was in the process of making Ghana at least a second world country. He embarked on a strategy to transform the “Guggisberg” economy that was left Ghana, to become an industrialized one .He set about trying to produce a skilled and productive work force and build one nation with a common vision. The pace at which he moved was too fast for the NPP, who liked calling others “veranda boys”, but they were the ones who were actually the slow thinkers .All these caused them to cast Dr Kwame Nkrumah as a villain instead of a visionary. That vision transcended even the boundaries of Ghana to include a united powerful Africa . But truth does not hide and he was voted Africa’s man of the millennium. This is no mean feat . Yet the NPP opposed everything he did and tried to do . The whole world including the West belatedly came to appreciate what he stood for and so what he wanted to achieve. Is it not a human right that Africans also should stand with their heads held high and walk tall, instead of the perennial begging bowl and being labeled a “ basket case” ? Was his application of Keynesianism , not what USA , used under the Roosevelt doctrine of the “New Deal” and Europe , under the “Marshall Plan” to develop their economies in the times of depression. Not to talk of the Soviet Union and China which is now No 2 largest economy in the world ? But the NPP like the proverbial ostriches with their heads in the sand cannot accept this reality but will regurgitate Adam Smith in a world far removed from what happened in his time? How can daavi or Kwesi kitiwa or Ardayfio compete with the big Chain stores Like Wal mart, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury , Morison or Target starting with income of $1.00 per day and the small farm holdings . But the NPP supervised over the closure of 400+ industries started by Nkrumah , and most in their infancy as they were started between 1960 and 1965 . Guys does it not take time for new businesses to mature to profitability? Yet they call themselves “ business people”. NPP bring us policies of things that work. Let me give you an example of the NPP blah , blah, blah These include: This is what the Head of the Economic desk Osafo marfo said on July the7th 2013 regarding Ghana’s economic health . The need for “restoring fiscal discipline in all departments of the public sector; reducing the appetite for borrowing from both domestic and foreign sources; a focused plan to enhance revenue mobilization but not through increased taxation; reviving Ghana’s ailing agricultural sector; job creation; and finally the appointment of competent people to run the affairs of the nation” So what did Osafo Marfo and his people do in their time. Was bank rate not at 24%, inflation at 18% and on leaving office after HIPC debt to GDP ratio of 15%. Had Nkrumah’s plans been accepted and pushed to fruition will they also not be partaking in salaries like those of some CEOs that earn bonuses of $40m per annum. How can we, when we are divided . should we not bury this ma te me ho mentality?

The year is 1969 and the first NPP is in power . They came in with the doctorate degrees and the rest could only shout in parliament “ yeah yeah” . They told Sam Okudzeto in the face “ we have made up our minds do not confuse us with facts” . Tribalism and xenophobia were at their height . Apollo 568 and the witch hunts were on . Even Joe Appiah a blue blood was disgusted and left to join with the Gas . It was the “ aliens compliance order’ . Ghana needed to be rid of “ aliens” . Biafra war was on but the “ Christian “ government of Prof Busia could not give a damn. 10 days they were given and their properties seized or acquired cheap. It was the exodus in repeat. They gloated and laughed and beat their chests . They have finally kicked out “ African Unity” . Then we followed them, 1 million of us . Nigeria was “ blessed’ as it became the El dorado. “ The “ chicken run” others labeled it . Even our agriculture was in a mess. We were now importing yams from Togo . The “ Christians” forgot Gods saying “ what ever you do unto the least of your brethren , you do unto me”

That was not enough . When they were shouting about Nkrumah’s dictatorship, and his frivolous pursuit of African Liberation , somewhere in the apartheid and racist and dictatorial South Africa was a man called Nelson Holihlahla Mandela. To the locals and long suffering owners of the land , he was simply “ Madiba”. Like the dictators of Europe , especially France who jailed their opponents , the most terrible being Chatteau D’eau, the South African equivalent was the Robben Island and a home to “ Madiba”. His crime was fighting for equality and dignity for his fellow humans ,albeit Black .He came out in 1991 to become the first Black President of South Africa. This was the man Busia and the NPP were stabbing in the back by supporting the racist government. They took pictures of the freedom fighters and published them thereby passing a death sentence on these poor souls. Had they followed the rest of the world may be Madiba would have had a shorter stay in jail and may not be in the state he is in today . But when Mandela was President he UNITED the races . Today he is hailed by the world . Should the NPP share in this celebration? Shame on you NPP

When the NPP or its predecessors were in power, Ghanaians ran away.1969 onwards saw a massive exodus ,after coming to power by banning the CPP and even removing Gbedemah from parliament. They ran literally a one party state of 102 v 28 in opposition .Despite their “ superior” economics , unemployment was rife and so the “ agege” run. Ghanaians queued for even toilet paper . Milk was a luxury , not to talk about sugar, sardines or milo . Foreign exchange was so scarce you needed to know some one to get just a bit . Aflao/Lome border was busy especially at the weekends as all trooped to get “ essential” commodities. Businesses and companies left our shores in droves. Ethiopian airways, South African Airways would not even land in Accra, Shoes factories, textile factories. Tema the industrial hub was getting deserted .Then comes “ the butcher of Dzelukope” .Inspite of a severe famine due to drought , this “murderer”, sent and welcomed back to Ghana , the agege people during the “ Ghana must go” exercise .The SS Tano river was on hand to bring them home from certain death. That was not all , Ghanaian “ economic exiles “ were also brought home from war torn Liberia and Sierra Leone while welcoming to our shore other refugees from Liberia, Sierra Leone and even Chad . But to the visionless NPP , that regime who saved their brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts can only be remembered for three murdered judges. Surprisingly businesses started to relocate back to Ghana . Ghana climbed up to no 2 Cocoa producing country. Gold mines were reorganized so Ghana and local authorities could earn more. GNPC was founded and in the long run Ghana is an Oil producing country . However the NPP continues to propagate lies. They brush over the Yan Na and the 40 dead. They brush over the 33 Ghanaians who were killed in Gambia looking for greener pasture because they failed the economy. They could not even get compensation but it took the NDC, 3 months to solve it and then to Libya to release detained Ghanaians . After education reform of 2007 , they increased school fees . Now they want Free SHS.Under the NPP , Ghana was under the control of armed robbers and cocaine barons . In the year that followed peace was restored. The armed robbers that were in operation were NPP operatives like Amina . Then we had the Chieftainship disputes galore. Families against each other. No peace ,no development . Today we have our own self imposed economic sanction called “election petition”. The determination is Ghana should be ungovernable especially by “pepeni” . So the markets and industrial installations are set on fire daily.

NPP, we know if you had ruled we would not have even had Akosombo Dam, thus the dumsor, dumsor , you refer to . Most of us would have remained illiterates . We would have been proud of the Zongos and the Sodom & Gomorahs . NPP ‘s idea of democracy is banning the opposition, it is abrogating contracts at will with total disregard of the consequences, of shouting insults and carrying high people like Ken Agyepong who will shout Kill Ewes , Kill gas , but if you shout Kill Asantes, Kill Akyems then you are a tribalist.

They took the election petition to the SC for adjudication but will not allow them to do their work. So Ken Kurachie becomes a” hero”, because he is “ politically persecuted” . Please NPP give us peace so we can bring power, jobs, houses, bring down corruption. We need to usher in TRUE democracy .That begins with Nana Akufo Addo or whoever he is. Start by bringing out your law certificates . Nana tell us about Virginia Hesse and the woman you left in the UK with your two children. Tell us about what happened to you at Oxford University and what year group you belonged to at Achimota Secondary school .A crook cannot fight corruption . Nana who was your mother ? You know why? He left it out of his “ detailed profile”. Nana Akufo -Addo, we wait for answers

The writer Kojo Tamakloe is an Nkrumaist who believes African Unity is the solution to Africas under development