What About Smoking The Weed, Nana Akufo-Addo?

Ask Salifu Ali

It was reported on all the major Ghanaian websites including Joyonline and


Ghanaweb that NPP’s 2012 flagbearer, Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dared his


critics to prove with empirical evidence that he had either tasted or sniffed


cocaine or shut up. The news which came like a bolt from the blue was not only


shocking but unexpected. Reason being that Akufo-Addo has been dogged with the


question of being a drug addict all his political life but he has never gathered


the moral and political courage to address this issue.


Therefore, when Akufo-Addo finally and partially addressed the drug issue by


daring his critics to prove their accusations, the media jumped on the story.


Who would not have done that after Akufo-Addo had kept mute over this issue for


so long much to the displeasure of his own party faithful. If you read through


the story and you are an Akufo-Addo supporter your heart will be gladdened that


this man has finally come out of his cocoon to bare his heart out. But if you on


the other side of the isle you will say, “wait a minute, it’s too little, too

late”, and a cosmetic way by Akufo-Addo to get this albatross off his neck.


But if you are also someone who looks beyond party lines and has Ghana at heart,


you will ask yourself why Akufo-Addo was ‘very crafty’ in mentioning only


cocaine but not the weed. To the best of my memory many Ghanaians including the


“Big Mouth” Kofi Wayo have variously accused Akufo-Addo of being a wee smoker in


addition to sniffing cocaine. Therefore, in an attempt to deny the allegations,


one wonders why Akufo-Addo will only deny ever sniffing cocaine and not also


deny smoking the weed.


This issue I bet is not going to go away. It has rather set the stage for people


to probe for more answers from Akufo-Addo. By not denying smoking the weed, does


it mean Akufo-Addo indeed smokes or had smoked the weed before? Or does


Akufo-Addo think the weed is the same as cocaine, therefore, denying one amounts


to denying both?





And the most bizarre question that has already started making rounds is why

Akufo-Addo chose to address the drug issue this week when many people in his own


party would have loved that he addressed the issue many years back. And some


school of thought want to know why Akufo-Addo did not hold a press conference to


address the issue so that the media can ask follow-up questions to finally put


the issue to rest.


Another thing that catches your attention after reading the Akufo-Addo story on


cocaine sniffing denial is why he is daring critics to prove with empirical


evidence. The word empirical means practical, experimental, observed or


pragmatic, therefore, to prove that Akufo-Addo indeed had either sniffed or


smoked the weed; an accuser has to come forward with real evidence such as a


photograph capturing Akufo-Addo in the act. And since Akufo-Addo knows that


there is no way anybody can come out with a picture of him sniffing cocaine that


may have been his reason of calling for empirical evidence. This is classy


lawyerly talk.


It was also reported that Akufo-Addo was fuming when he dared his critics to

prove their allegations. Na who cause am? Akufo-Addo has himself to blame. It


was not only yesterday that Akufo-Addo heard about these accusations. Even some


prominent members of NPP have quietly accused him of that act. So if Akufo-Addo


is indeed genuine about putting this issue to bed, he should have done it many,


many years ago and not wait until this week to address the issue. What


Akufo-Addo probably is not aware of is that the way he had grossly dodged the


issue have confirmed the fears of many Ghanaians especially the swing voters


that there may be an element of truth in the accusations that is why Akufo-Addo


has ran away from the issue all this while.


And to make matters worse Akufo-Addo addressed only one part of the accusations.


Was it deliberate or a calculated political move on his part? Was Akufo-Addo


thinking that no one will catch that he never mentioned the weed? In politics


when your back is against the wall, it is better to come out and admit a


mistake, apologize, ask for forgiveness and move on. But if you stonewall as


Akufo-Addo has done all these years, you hurt your political base and also the

swing voters who may hold sway over your political fortunes.


Those handling Akufo-Addo should do a masterful job by asking him to face the


media to address all issues relating to drugs once and for all. It is not


uncommon for some politicians to turn around from their youthful miscreant.


Former President George Bush who was known as an alcoholic was able to turn


around from his drinking habit to become the most prominent leader of the world.


Therefore, it is not too late for Akufo-Addo to do same. Sometimes, you become


strong after admitting a mistake and moving on. Stonewalling had never helped


anyone. If I were Akufo-Addo I will take a cue from what King David did by


admitting to plotting the killing of Uriah the Hittite after he had slept with


Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. King David became strong after he admitted his guilt to


the Prophet Nathan and asking God for forgiveness. A word to a wise………….





salifuali@rocketmail.com