My answer is: Nope!
The next question is whether Nana Akufo-Addo’s competencies have not been over-exaggerated by his promoters. My answer is: Yes! Nana’s competencies have been largely exaggerated.
This is what the CPP’s presidential candidate, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom said about Akufo-Addo:
"We know that Akufo-Addo’s only claim to fame is human rights campaigner and a member of the NPP. . . . We are sure the about 42 Ghanaians who died in Gambia have no rights at all. He was the Foreign Minister then and we are sure he is very happy with his handling of the situation. . . . What did he accomplish as a minister that Ghanaians will cite as an example to vote for him?" -- Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom.
But, Nana Akufo-Addo has operated a successful legal practice in Ghana. Does it mean that he is as competent as his promoters want us to believe? The answer is: Nope. One does not have to possess a superb legal brain to operate a successful legal practice. I daresay, one does not even have to be a lawyer to operate an excellent legal firm, assuming it is allowed for non-lawyers to operate legal firms in Ghana. If you associate with the right people and recruit the right professionals for your office, you can reach any heights notwithstanding your personal weaknesses. You must only have the right attitude and acumen for managing an office, and the ability to listen, understand, and learn constantly about the job.
Right from day one when NPP took over the governance of Ghana, they have embarked on an operation “jail Tsatsu Tsikata at all cost.” Even if it would mean loading the courts or appointing new justices to give upper hand to the government and specifically rule against Tsikata’s positions, the government was prepared to do that under Nana Akufo-Addo’s directions. In the end, and 8 years down the line, Nana Akufo-Addo’s NPP has struggled in futility to achieve this single desire. It has registered humiliating defeats except one major victory that was seemingly manipulated. Nana Akufo-Addo’s legal competencies were really tested here, I suppose. The result is more than clear.
Nana may be an astute politician. In fact, he is a clever chap in many respects. I think he is a wonderfully gifted orator, but, he can also sound unctuous. He seems to have excellent grasp on political and developmental issues. What accounts for all of these is that he has been in politics for a very long time. He has always been around big-time politicians. It is not a secret that the environment is a major influence in the formative years. His overall aggressive approach to issues is entirely consistent with his life-time ambition to become the President of Ghana. Nana has always lived big; his world has always been big. He is not in any way accustomed to small things, but he also has an irascible temperament. The question is do these qualities necessarily make him a good presidential material? The answer is: Nope. Let us first of all remember
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom’s statement that:
"We know that Akufo-Addo’s only claim to fame is human rights campaigner and a member of the NPP. . . . What did he accomplish as a minister that Ghanaians will cite as an example to vote for him?" -- Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom. Ok, if we must believe Dr. Nduom that Nana Akufo-Addo has not accomplished anything to ride on to the presidency, why did Nana Addo win the keenly contested NPP primary? To me, the constitutional “non-issue” that Nana did not win 50% plus one of the votes at the congress and so is not a legitimate candidate is neither here nor there. If NPP comes out of congress united that Nana Akufo-Addo is its candidate, who anywhere can complain? He is the candidate and that is it. But how did he beat all the other 21 contestants? Did he achieve that because he was the most competent among all the contestants? The answer is: Nope.
In my mind, Nana Akufo-Addo won the contest because he was the establishment candidate. His clever political calculation won him the bid. He waited patiently for his turn. He had contested the position earlier and lost. He drew his support largely from the role his immediate and extended family had played in UP/PP/NPP politics, and he had nurtured his own ambition for a very long time, making sure that he had stuck closely to the power bloc of the party. He was obviously not the best among the lot. He had goofed many times during the campaign, and had arrogantly splashed money all over the place as if money was popcorn to him. Quite a few known NPP personalities, including Odoi Sykes, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, and Kwaku Azar (NPP’s chief advocate on Ghanaweb Say It Loud) have questioned the source of his campaign funds. It is a shame that these people do not care anymore where the money came from. But, anyway, that is not the issue I am trying to advance now.
To show that winning NPP’s primary does not necessarily make Nana Akufo-Addo the best man for Ghana, I provide below what Kwaku Azar of Ghanaweb SIL wrote in the eve of NPP’s primary when he was not sure that Nana Akufo-Addo was going to win the contest. Azar wrote among others: “The issue then is squarely whether the NPP or the country can afford a President who is perceived as arrogant and who promotes his potence in the Castle, or wherever the brand new $75M India-built Presidential mansion will be located." – Kwaku Azar of Say It Loud
Kwaku Azar had earlier observed Nana Akufo-Addo’s indiscretion a number of times on the campaign trail and had almost lost total confidence in the candidate. Two of the statements Nana Akufo-Addo, who is being promoted as the “best man for Ghana” had made during the time, and which sent people wondering if the man could be a good President at all are provided below. They were the same statements that compelled Kwaku Azar to think that Nana Akufo-Addo was childishly promoting his potency instead of his relevant qualities for the presidency. The statements are as follows:
1. “Some claim they are young and energetic so we the old ones must give way for them to lead the party. They should go and ask the women if I am not strong in bed.” – Nana Akufo-Addo (the supposed best man for Ghana).
2. “[I am] the only one capable of making the NDC flagbearer, John Evans Atta Mills, lose appetite for both food and his wife Naadu after the December National Delegates Congress of the NPP." – Nana Akufo-Addo (the supposed best man for Ghana).
These statements were made on different occasions during the NPP’s primary. These, plus other negative perception about Nana Akufo-Addo have resulted in Kwaku Azar’s frustration, which he expressed as follows, and implying that Nana Akufo-Addo, the establishment candidate was woefully disappointing, and an embarrassment for the establishment. Azar wrote:
"But Nana has two major problems. First, he is perceived as arrogant and having a bad temparement. While there is little evidence to support this perception, Nana's recent harsh verbal attack on Asabee in Parliament has only fuelled this perception. At the verandahs and stadia, people are asking if he can verbally attack an MP and minsiter when he is not even the President, what will he do when he is the President?
Nana's second problem is he has run an ineffective and incompetent campaign that has promoted his potence rather than his ideas and vision. In a race that was his to lose, he has, for unkwown reasons, failed to electrify the crowd like he did in 1998 choosing rather to emphasize worthless themes like his potence. While the emphasis of potence was made in humor, serious political analyst are flabbergasted that a politician of his age, pedigree, and experience will emphasise, not once but twice, this potence which only start and fuel the speculation of lack of judgment, at best, and womanizing, at worst.
The issue then is squarely whether the NPP or the country can afford a President who is perceived as arrogant and who promotes his potence in the Castle, or wherever the brand new $75M India-built Presidential mansion will be located." – Kwaku Azar (NPP’s chief Advocate on Ghanaweb Say It Loud.
If NPP’s strongman Kwaku Azar indicts Nana Akufo-Addo as above, who are you to think that Nana Akufo-Addo is competent and the best man for Ghana? HE IS SIMPLY, NOT. A lot has happened since his nomination.
Nana Akufo-Addo and Issues about Illicit Drugs:
Now, Nana Akufo-Addo has been elected as NPP’s flag bearer and he is canvassing for votes from Ghanaians. We woke up one-day and heard the leader of another political party in Ghana on radio accused Nana Akufo-Addo of being a consumer of illicit drugs. We do not know whether or not this accusation is true. But, it has been made, and attempts have been made by certain people and groups within the NPP to deny it. These people and groups have tried to deny the accusation because they knew that it was a dangerous dent on the character of Nana Akufo-Addo and everything needed to be done to deny it. Meanwhile, the man who is supposed to be the best man for Ghana has refused to make any comments on the accusation for months. His supporters have been building an impregnable shield around him so that nobody can ask him the question directly. They are quick to say the source of the accusation makes it unworthy of Nana’s response. They are trying every trick to prevent Ghanaians from finding out from a presidential candidate whether or not a dangerous accusation of him is true – a somber phenomenon in our young democracy.
They are frightening those who think they must make a lot of noise to attract Nana Akufo-Addo’s response to this important accusation. Some of his admirers are saying it is defamation of Nana Addo’s character to continue to ask him to react to the accusation without providing any proofs against him. I honestly do not see any issue of defamation here when all that some Ghanaian voters are asking for is that a public official – a presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo must react to a negative accusation that impugns his character to set the records straight and let the matter rest for good. What is even more ridiculous is that since this accusation has been made several months ago, nobody in the Ghanaian media has been able to “corner” Nana Akufo-Addo to question him directly about it. They all appear to be cowards to me. It is a clear sign of the failure of our media to hold our leaders strictly responsible to us. Our democracy is in trouble when people in the media are so afraid to confront our leaders directly on any allegations against them.
Why Does the Source of the Accusation Matter?
As a matter of fact, in my mind, the content of an accusation against a presidential candidate must be more important than the source of the accusation. Assuming that the source of an accusation is even unknown but the accusation has gained notorious prominence in the media, the accused person must not be making excuses that because in his thinking, the source of the accusation is not credible so he would treat it with disdain and the citizens must never know the truth. But in this particular circumstance, the source of the accusation is even known and important in our politics. The source is a founder of another political party in Ghana. The source was able to have access to a radio station because of the status of the person in our society. The person has registered a political party and has received a final certificate to operate a party just like NPP. The attempt at demeaning the source of the accusation is only an excuse to dodge a direct reaction and discussion of this important issue. NANA AKUFO-ADDO WAS NEVER KNOWN TO BE MEEK. Unfortunately, he is being worse than meek in this particular instance.
As for those who are asking that anyone who wants to discuss the matter must have evidence or proof that the accusation is true, they are dangerous elements to our democracy. How are we going to get the evidence? Why do we need evidence when we are not in the court of law? Why do we need evidence before we could question the people who seek to lead us about information we hear about them on radio? NANA AKUFO-ADDO’S CONTINUOUS FAILURE TO REACT TO THIS ACCUSATION IS PART OF THE INDISCRETION THAT INDICTS HIS PERSONALITY AND CONFIRMS HIS ARROGANCE THAT KWAKU AZAR HAS VIVIDLY DISCUSSED ABOVE.
Non-prosecution of 3 NPP Women from Dzorwulo Caught with Drugs It is also being written all over the place that some 3 women, who were also the executive of NPP women’s wing in Dzorwulo, were arrested at KIA when they had attempted to export drugs outside of Ghana. It is being rumored that these people were arrested when Nana Akufo-Addo was Ghana’s Attorney General. SO, WHY CAN’T WE QUESTION NANA AKUFO-ADDO TO TELL US THE STATUS OF THIS CASE WHEN SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THE WOMEN HAVE ONLY BEEN PATTED AT THE BACK?
Arrest of one Raymond Amankwah and Release of his Assets
It is also being rumored that the assets of one Raymond Amankwah had been seized in connection with drug-related charges prior to NPP’s assumption of power. It is further rumored that under Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure as Ghana’s Attorney General, the assets were released to Mr. Raymond Amankwah. Mr. Amankwah is said to have been arrested recently and jailed in Brazil on drug-related charges. The rumors have it that Raymond Amankwah is the brother-in-law of Nana Akufo-Addo’s younger brother. In fact, some people even stretch it that Raymond Amankwah may be one of Nana Akufo-Addo’s financiers. WE DO NOT KNOW IF ALL OF THESE ARE TRUE. So, why can’t we courageously ask our presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo to address these matters? Why must we be afraid of asking simple questions like these? Why must anyone want to harm anyone for just asking these questions of a presidential candidate of Ghana? ARE WE SERIOUS? Why can’t Nana happily and aggressively address these matters and stand tall? As I have said earlier, Nana Addo was never known to be meek, but in this particular instance, he is being worse than meek. Must we assume that his silence is an admission of these rumors? OUR MEDIA IS FAILING US BIG TIME.
Discontinuance of Frank Benneh’s Drug-related Trial
Frank Benneh was a career diplomat in Switzerland during NDC’s reign. He was cited for drug dealing and brought to Ghana for prosecution during NDC’s term of office. As of today, Frank Benneh is a free man and is not undergoing prosecution. NDC supporters are saying it was during Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure as Ghana’s Attorney General that he decided to stop the prosecution of Frank Benneh. WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS TRUE, WE DON’T KNOW. So, why can’t we question Nana Akufo-Addo to explain this matter? Why must we be castigated because we want a presidential candidate to explain an important matter like this?
Nana Akufo-Addo and the Whitaker Group
While the circumstances surrounding Nana Akufo-Addo’s recent event in Washington D.C.—where the Whitaker GP., which had been paid by the government of Ghana, with the tax payers’ money, had played a major role—suggest that Nana is grossly abusing incumbency and cheating the other contestants in this year’s presidential elections, I will not be too hard on him because most politicians try to cheat “small” if they find the opportunity. I think, though that NDC must check such abuses and also watch the Whitaker GP closely not to meddle in our internal politics.
Conclusion
Refer to Nana Akufo-Addo’s statements on his potency (1 below) – a purely disastrous misjudgment. Consider it alongside NPP’s strongman, Kwaku Azar’s comments on Nana Akufo-Addo (2, below) – an apparent indictment on Nana’s judgment, yet again. Take also into account Dr. Nduom’s statement on Nana Akufo-Addo (3 below). Combine all of these with Nana’s continuous refusal to react to all the drug rumors – total arrogance and a tacit admission of the accusations. NOW, DECIDE FOR YOURSELF IF NANA AKUFO-ADDO IS THE BEST MAN FOR GHANA.
(1). “Some claim they are young and energetic so we the old ones must give way for them to lead the party. They should go and ask the women if I am not strong in bed.” – Nana Akufo-Addo (the supposed best man for Ghana).
“[I am] the only one capable of making the NDC flagbearer, John Evans Atta Mills, lose appetite for both food and his wife Naadu after the December National Delegates Congress of the NPP." – Nana Akufo-Addo (the supposed best man for Ghana).
(2). "But Nana has two major problems. First, he is perceived as arrogant and having a bad temparement. While there is little evidence to support this perception, Nana's recent harsh verbal attack on Asabee in Parliament has only fuelled this perception. At the verandahs and stadia, people are asking if he can verbally attack an MP and minsiter when he is not even the President, what will he do when he is the President?
Nana's second problem is he has run an ineffective and incompetent campaign that has promoted his potence rather than his ideas and vision. In a race that was his to lose, he has, for unkwown reasons, failed to electrify the crowd like he did in 1998 choosing rather to emphasize worthless themes like his potence. While the emphasis of potence was made in humor, serious political analyst are flabbergasted that a politician of his age, pedigree, and experience will emphasise, not once but twice, this potence which only start and fuel the speculation of lack of judgment, at best, and womanizing, at worst. The issue then is squarely whether the NPP or the country can afford a President who is perceived as arrogant and who promotes his potence in the Castle, or wherever the brand new $75M India-built Presidential mansion will be located." – Kwaku Azar (NPP’s chief Advocate on Ghanaweb Say It Loud.
(3). "We know that Akufo-Addo’s only claim to fame is human rights campaigner and a member of the NPP. We are sure the about 42 Ghanaians who died in Gambia have no rights at all. He was the Foreign Minister then and we are sure he is very happy with his handling of the situation. What did he accomplish as a minister that Ghanaians will cite as an example to vote for him?" -- Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom.
YOU, BE THE JUDGE!
Dela BISHOP
dela@bishop.com
Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.
