By Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D.
News that Messrs. Kennedy Ohene Agyepong, Maxwell Kofi Jumah and Balado Manu are on their way out of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) into forming a new political party called the People's Liberation Party (PLP) is a very good piece of jive, or bunk, in New York speak, that is (See "Kofi Jumah, Ken Agyapong form Breakaway Party?" Peacefmonline.com / Ghanaweb.com 2/16/14).
It is a good piece of jive because scarcely a month, or two ago, the former Kumasi mayor was telling a miffed Kennedy Agyepong that the latter's publicly stated intention of forming a new political party, in the likely event of Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey's being retained as National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party would not fly or succeed. And as I vividly recall, Mr. Jumah cited the instructive examples of the legion breakaway parties that have continued to perennially linger on the margins of Ghanaian society since their hapless formations.
Still, it makes quite a bit of sense to me that Mr. Jumah, in particular, should be tempted into embarking on a new political venture, if only because he clearly has become a spent force among the ranks of the top NPP constabulary. Indeed, ever since the eruption of his intemperate and flagrantly sexist obscenities against Ms. Appiagyei, his successor as Kumasi mayor, provoked the people of Asokwa into effectively unseating him as their parliamentary representative, Mr. Jumah has become a party man without a berth in the practical sense of the expression.
His incessant demogogical rants on radio talking-heads, clearly seem to be geared towards securing some sort of sinecure, in the event of the NPP's returning to power in the offing. Consequently, I don't see Mr. Jumah's purported spoiling for the flagbearership of a so-called People's Liberation Party being anything short of a patent publicity stunt. And, by the way, whoever heard of any serious and viable political organization going by such neo-communist label as a "People's Liberation Party" in the Ghana of the twenty-first century?
I also don't know what Mr. Agyepong makes of such presumptuous Jumah remark as "Ken is the financier [of the PLP], and I'm also backing him with my wisdom." Precisely what wisdom is this Asokwa street-boy talking about? You see, such presumptuous talk reminds me of those innocent days when one could routinely get away with invidious stereotypical comments that sought to reduce Ghanaians of northern descent to intelligence-shorn brawns, while southerners, regardless of professional and academic status, were considered to be veritable citadels of cranial prowess.
But that Mr. Jumah would make such a politically nescient and morally scandalous remark on Oman-Fm Radio, which I understand is owned by Mr. Agyepong, in of itself, tells more than enough about the caliber and integrity of the cynically adventurous operatives of the so-called People's Liberation Party.
And just what talent and/or contribution does Mr. Balado Manu bring to PLP's dinner table? Your guess is as good as mine, dear reader.
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*Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D.
Department of English
Nassau Community College of SUNY
Garden City, New York
Feb. 16, 2014
E-mail: okoampaahoofe@optimum.net
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