Why Nana Akufo-Addo's Lust for Power is a Danger to Ghana

Nana Akufo-Addo is in the news again and as usual, for all the wrong reasons. Speaking in Berlin, Germany, to NPP supporters, Nana Addo, made the case that “the stakes for power in Ghana have been heightened by the discovery of oil in substantial quantities and the leader who will emerge out of next year’s elections will have a much bigger basket with which to address the problems of the nation and with this rise in the stakes, it is absolutely critical that the right architecture for our elections are fully established for a free, fair and transparent election so that the results will be readily acceptable.”

I don’t get it. Since when did the stakes for power in Ghana heightened as a result of the discovery of oil? Who heightened the stakes? Is Nana Akufo-Addo serious? I thought the argument would be because of failing educational standards among others the stakes are high. But to leave the myriad of problems confronting Ghana and say because of oil, the stakes are high for power in Ghana should give us an idea of the intention and mindset of the one making the statement. That person is thinking about how much of the oil he can get and not how much of the solution he can offer. But as far as right-thinking Ghanaians are concerned, the stakes have remained the same. Why is Nana Akufo-Addo so ugly in his thinking? It is a shame, how the NPP have continued to make mockery of democracy. Having run out of ideas, the likes of Nana Addo have turned our democracy into a theatre for political comedy.

If there is any heightening, then it is because we need to hurry up and fix the problems that are staring us in the face and not because of oil and Nana Akufo-Addo must be told in no uncertain terms. It is obvious that the NPP is planning something sinister if the 2012 elections does not go their way judging from the utterances of their leaders. I’m not surprised they want to get hold of our oil money to do their dirty politics.

Since embracing politics as a career, the likes of Nana Akufo-Addo have lost their reflective attitude to become pyromaniacs. Because of oil, Nana Akufo-Addo will do anything to become president. It is not proper for a presidential candidate to be talking about the need for him to become president as a result of Ghana discovering oil. Nana Addo should not be talking about issues like this in a conference where he had the opportunity to address critical issues and tell Ghanaians his policy alternatives, but Nana Addo is a stubborn cat. Where are Nana Addo’s policy alternatives? More than 2yrs as the leader of the opposition NPP, we have not heard of one single policy alternative from Nana Addo yet he is all over the place preaching election violence. Can our nation endure the luxury of having another president without the public ever having the opportunity to evaluate the leader’s policy alternatives? Or, are we going to allow ourselves to be shortchanged by a democratically-elected president with diminutive ideas, and be burdened with a leadership disaster for four excruciating years? The politics of hope and the noxious acceptance of idealisms must give way to action and realism. The 2012 presidential election should be a time for the Ghanaian public to field reflective questions to test our leader’s wit, and astuteness on domestic and foreign policies. Let’s see presidential hopefuls contest their ideas in the open marketplace. This time, the public will be the judge, and not paid spinners who mistake their clumsy dishonesty for quick mettle.

In a world of hostile competition, where leaders fight for national interests, we have lost our nation to relational political players such as Nana Addo, who barely understand the link between a policy statement and a nation’s moral development. While great leaders debate policies, the best way to move their nations forward, and protecting the young generation, the attention of the Ghanaian opposition political leadership is fixated on Ghana’s new found wealth. Because of oil, Nana Akufo-Addo is ready to kill and destroy for the presidency. Ghanaians should open their eyes wide else this country will be overwhelmed by what will happen if this guy wins power. He just can't wait to get his hand on the oil money.

Has Nana Akufo-Addo actually deluded himself into thinking he is a credible alternative to President Mills, or is he, like his uncle J.B. Danquah, simply so insecure in his own abilities that he uses rhetoric to appear to be the man he would prefer to be? It is difficult to say, but the danger to our country is palpable either way.

Leaving our nation’s fate in the hands of political looters like Nana Addo is morally wrong, and we must exercise our right to free speech to outline our founded views on what the likes of Nana Addo intends to doing differently. It will amount to a curse to have Nana Addo to become a president of Ghana. God will not curse us with this man. We do not deserve such a man to lead us. He is not good for Ghana.

In Nana Addo's thirst for power, he continually sees a higher calling in himself than any other person has. The people of the Ghana cannot allow Nana Akufo-Addo to realize the power he so lusts after. There is simply too much at stake. I shall be back!