Bernard Mornah
Ordinarily, I shouldn’t be responding to an empty and hollow article from Kwame Okoampa Ahoofe who is widely known for his rantings and baseless accusations. From all indications, he is a notorious serial liar who thrives on falsehood and lacks the basics to appreciate the issues happening in Ghana.
No wonder he was dismissed from the Danquah Institute and yet again no wonder Nana Akufo-Addo has not found him worthy to contribute to his elephantine government. Indeed, allies of Nana Akufo-Addo such as Fadi Dabbousi and Kweku Baako Jnr. have had cause to describe him and his writings in unprintable words.
For example, “The worst thing that can happen to an organisation is to have a racist, tribalistic talkative, debating issues of national importance, and the worst thing that can happen to a country is to have a Think Tank that harbours such unpatriotic characters. Hatred of personalities must not translate into insalubrious write-ups that would only serve to muddy the clear waters that His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo has managed to purify.” Fadi Dabbousi Samih.
Fadi continues, “Cantankerous Ahoofe Jr (PhD) was a member of the governing body of Danquah Institute. He wrote a series of inflammatory, unacceptable, and clearly tribalistic articles that incurred the ire of his peeps. That led Gabby Otchere-Darko to cause his dismissal. In fact, he was sacked over derogatory remarks that insulted the ideals of DI.”
In what appears to be the usual baseless and uninformed attacks of Okoampa on Mr. Baako, the latter also responded that, “the author who is also a member of the Governing Board of the Accra-based Danquah Institute, had not bothered to double-check on the political track-record of the subject of his highly critical piece which was apparently based on a purported interview I, Kweku Baako had granted a Kumasi-based radio station, Hello FM.” On that occasion, Mr Baako suggests that he had not granted any such interview.
So, who is this academic who remains allergic to facts and truths? And what does he teach his students? And how come he is being referred to as “a racist, tribalistic, cantankerous” among others? Is it any wonder that this so called academic will throw decency to the dogs and descend so low in his latest article titled, “Mornah, Akufo Addo Is Far Better Than Your Idol Mahama!”? This is precisely why I am hesitant to respond to him considering the enormity of the task on my desk as the Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC).
However, I am compelled to respond. Otherwise, many well-meaning Ghanaians may feed on his lies about the recent demonstration organised by the Coalition for National Sovereignty in Techiman. Okoampa sitting somewhere in the United States of America probably idling and having nothing meaningful to offer to enrich our national discourse does not mean well for Ghana; hence his resort to naked hatred and bigotry.
I want to emphasise that Okoampa's article was pregnant with lies. For instance, he claims I am on the payroll of the National Democratic Congress. This is a blatant lie and must be disregarded.
It is not surprising though since Kwame Okoampa and his intolerant NPP cannot come to terms with the decision by opposition political parties and their leaders to collaborate in order to put a check on the non-performing NPP government that promised heaven but is virtually doing nothing for Ghanaians except leading Ghana into political and economic abyss.
I firmly believe as opposition political parties and civil society organisations, we have a responsibility to hold the government accountable no matter how uncomfortable that government and its hirelings feel. I believe we are not doing enough. Kwame Okoampa should, therefore, understand that I am not moved by such baseless accusations.
I will remain steadfast and committed in playing my watchdog role of championing the need for prudence in government. I would never be swayed by such destructive criticisms and Okoampa should inform his beloved but deceptive government to ready itself for more mass actions going forward because we shall continue to demand accountability.
Curiously enough, I am tempted to question Kwame Okoampa Ahoofe’s academic credentials because I cannot fathom how, a PhD holder – worth the title – would refer to H.E. John Mahama as a one-time Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency.
For someone to claim to be a PhD holder yet miss out on a basic fact like this does not only beat my imagination but it also cast doubts about his academic credentials.
As if that is not enough, Kwame Okoampa referred to me as the Secretary-General of the PNC. It is only an arm-chair and lazy writer like him, who will miss the position I occupy in the PNC. But most importantly, our party is committed to contributing to the political discourse with the view to stimulating attitudinal and institutional reforms that will ensure the initiation of viable and sustainable policies for Ghana and Ghanaians. This is what drives me!
It is intriguing that Kwame Okoampa only sees the so-called good things being done by Nana Akufo Addo and his NPP government. As expected, he is blinded to the many things that are going wrong under Nana Addo's regime. No matter the reason for his myopic analysis as a result of bounded will power and sycophancy, it is a truism that Ghana is moving in the wrong direction under Nana Addo.
If I may ask, is it not true that there is heightened and unprecedented insecurity in Ghana today as evidenced by the kidnappings which were hitherto alien to Ghanaians? Is it not also true that corruption, mismanagement and abuse of office have become a daily routine within the elephantine Nana Addo government? Furthermore, is it not true that hardships have reached unbearable limits under Akufo Addo’s watch notwithstanding the continuous touting of improving economic indices?
From all of the above, Okoampa and his NPP must understand that, ordinary Ghanaians are entitled to free expression and association. As such, there can be no justifiable reason to stifle any group of Ghanaians or individuals including I, Bernard Mornah, who decide to legally embark on a public protest to have their voices heard and probably get their concerns addressed by those in authority.
It is therefore distasteful that Kwame Okoampa Ahoofe, Akufo Addo’s ventriloquist, will sit back and blow empty hot air against any such decision to demonstrate peacefully anywhere in Ghana.
As long as the NPP continues to inflict hardship on the people of Ghana through greed, deception and incompetence, mass mobilization would set in and the President would be called upon to park out of the presidency if he can’t solve the basic bread and butter needs of Ghanaians.
Okoampa, be informed that I am a very busy person, so I serve notice that this is the last time I will honour you with a response on your delusional effusions because you don’t deserve my attention.
Bernard Mornah
(Convener, Coalition for National Sovereignty)
