The Sage Speaks in Chorus with the Supporters of Nana Akuffo-Addo

I am once again declaring my unwavering support for the candidacy of Nana Dankwah Akuffo-Addo for the "flagbearership" of the NPP. He is the one most able to lead the NPP from relegation to power. The NPP is presently relegated to the fringes of the political administration of Ghana. Is he not the one fate has ordained to bring relief to the citizens of Ghana, by way of leading them out of their precarious mental, physical and psychological oppression in which they currently find themselves under the NDC administration? He has more often than not stood tall to be counted, especially, when it comes to championing for the implementation, and the defence of, human rights in Ghana. He will surely not be a lame duck President whose facultative decision-taking will be dictated to by some horrible characters calling themselves party founders, party cadres, party fanatics and or party foot-soldiers, as it is offensively noticeable at the moment under President Mills' watch. He has a track record of being dynamic; dedicated to being of service to Ghanaians and humanity, and being fearless. He is not only principled but outspoken on issues of national concern.

Some people are of the notion that the NPP lost the 2008 national elections mainly due to the personal actions and inactions of Nana Akuffo-Addo. This School of thought believes that Nana is incompetent, arrogant and callous. They are too assertive about what I consider as irresponsible allegation. To these people, Nana is the one solely responsible for the reprehensible failure of the NPP to winning the said elections. I beg to defer. Nana did not lose the elections based on the reasons adduced in support of his rivals' quest to replace him though, the most favoured contestant for the NPP flagbearership. His rival NDC democratic presidential hopefuls have their own sour defamatory stories to tell. Whatever ones opinion about Nana, he is the one best placed to clench victory for the NPP come 2012. He is the one positively able to move Ghana forward.

In my opinion, the NPP lost the elections on four main perceived or known reasons. They lost because they were absolutely, corporately complacent during the election time. They had deceived themselves into believing that victory was going to be handed to them on a silver platter without the need for any serious grassroots campaigning. In their mind, they had won the elections already as they wrongly thought Ghanaians were no longer sooner going to hand over power to the obnoxiously tyrannical NDC party. As the then Professor Fifii Atta Mills was assiduously conducting grassroots campaigning, going from door to door, knocking on the electorates' doors soliciting their votes, the NPP were measuring their chances of winning in terms of the huge numbers of people attending their open air or outdoor campaign rallies. Is Nana Dankwah Akuffo-Addo solely blameable for this NPP's utter campaign mediocrity though Nana and his campaign team cannot be 100% exonerated of blame? I recommend that the NPP become a bit farsighted in any next electioneering campaign without hoping to dwell on their past achievements or glories as convincingly enough evidences to be simply accorded the mandate to rule. That will be preposterous on their part.

The NPP lost the 2008 elections due to what I call as "political incorrectness". Some politically visionless elements within the party hierarchy thought it right to impose certain incumbent MPs on some Constituencies contrary to the wishes of the very constituents. Electioneering campaign is all about winning elections and the ultimate power at this critical period resides with the electorates. Their wish, rather than that of the aspirant must always be respected or else, you lose the election by losing their votes. This is exactly what happened to the NPP. Will you blame Nana for this myopic decision taken over and above his head by some unnamed corrupt saboteurs within the party? I recommend as follows. No longer should the NPP ever impose candidates on the electorates contrary to their majority anticipation or unflinching request. Lessons have shown that it is suicidal to do that. Hopefully, the mistakes made in 2008 are still fresh in the minds of many, and to repeat them any sooner will be folly on the part of NPP.

Why did they lose the elections, one may still wish to ask? They lost because of what I think to be some misguided display of extravagant living by some Government Ministers and or party gurus. It was shameful to see certain people living ostentatiously simply because of their political affiliation with the party. Many Ghanaians did perceive this as flagrant corruption taking place within the NPP government. Was Nana to be held responsible for this across-the-party canker? He can be blamed if it took place in his ministry or ministries. Under this same topic, some MPs and DCEs were given plenty of leeway to become unaccountable and hence, personally profited at the demise of their Constituencies and or Districts. There wasn't and still not, that should-have-been inherent transparency with the dispensation of their common fund chest.

Finally, that roguish, opportunistic and threat-induced style of campaigning by the NDC as spearheaded by the Former President J.J. Rawlings, the sole founder and major financier of the NDC, played immensely against the re-election of the NPP. Many were those that feared that Rawlings would earnestly bring about what may be a guerrilla warfare in Ghana should the NDC fail to clench power as they desperately anticipated. To forestall any riot or warfare of any kind, many peace-loving Ghanaians decided to give the NDC a go. Should Nana Dankwah Akuffo-Addo be held blameable for this decision taken by the electorates in the supreme interest of Ghana? My answer is no!

Now that Ghanaians have carried that proverbial "palm wine and water" separately, they can now tell which of them is heavier. Can Rawlings now campaign on the fear of the people to win elections? His true colours are now laid bare for all to see. Ghanaians can now go to the polls to express their true voting rights without any intimidations whatsoever.

I would normally have preferred Professor Frimpong Boateng to Nana but crouching with my ear to the ground, Professor Frimpong Boateng is at the moment far behind Nana as the people's choice. Professor will surely have his chance one day. He should not relent in his efforts to sell himself to the electorates. God willing, he will become a future President of Ghana after Nana Akuffo-Addo.

Ghana will certainly move forward with Nana Akuffo-Addo. Nana Akuffo-Addo all the way!

Rockson Adofo