The Afoko Brouhaha, Is NPP its Own Worst Enemy?

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Ghanaman 11 years ago

These mpepefuo all of a sudden want to occupy every political position in Ghana.

These mpepefuo all of a sudden want to occupy every political position in Ghana.
alberta afoko 11 years ago

You are such a coward, why not write your real name instead of Ghanaman. What makes you think Akans are better than Northerners. You guys are so inward looking. Grow up.

You are such a coward, why not write your real name instead of Ghanaman. What makes you think Akans are better than Northerners. You guys are so inward looking. Grow up.
Akadu Mensema 11 years ago

Kofi Ata Vi! What a swine as we used to say! Why not hear both sides before you choose your usual anti-NPP route! So Afoko granted interview and said blabla so he is right! What an idiotic conclusion!

Kofi Ata Vi! What a swine as we used to say! Why not hear both sides before you choose your usual anti-NPP route! So Afoko granted interview and said blabla so he is right! What an idiotic conclusion!
Nii Tsokor 11 years ago

Did you read and think through what Mr Ata is saying at all ?There is a preponderance of evidence in the interrogation of Mr Akofo that he was being set up for a big fall or fail in his attempt to win the NPP nomination for t ...
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Did you read and think through what Mr Ata is saying at all ?There is a preponderance of evidence in the interrogation of Mr Akofo that he was being set up for a big fall or fail in his attempt to win the NPP nomination for the presidency.This has got entrapment written all over it.

Where did you obtain your doctorate from ? I hope you didn't buy it.
Akadu Mensema 11 years ago

What is evidence? Yours is as subjective as mine! What you call evidence is simply puta line of thought! We can assemble and deduce one, in fact, summon our versions to our cause. Even if w quote Afoko's words, they would not ...
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What is evidence? Yours is as subjective as mine! What you call evidence is simply puta line of thought! We can assemble and deduce one, in fact, summon our versions to our cause. Even if w quote Afoko's words, they would not sancrosanct!It will be just Afoko's work lacking binary contests!
insight to the bone 11 years ago

2000 years of Akan glorious history can not be replaced by 50 just because ndc , nkrumah pepeni and ayigbe criminals say so or want it so. Today i listen to my psalms , hymns and war songs by bob marley and 2pac just like Dav ...
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2000 years of Akan glorious history can not be replaced by 50 just because ndc , nkrumah pepeni and ayigbe criminals say so or want it so. Today i listen to my psalms , hymns and war songs by bob marley and 2pac just like David who composed for the Israelis so remain inspired. i look out of my window and count myself blessed that i have not fallen prey to these fake prophets and priests whose only aim is to collect collection more than 10 times during a service but have the clarity of mind to meditate alone and offer thanks to God. What ever they say i know its the opposite , if they say look right you better quickly closely observe whats happening on the left. the say the economy is grown then you must know its a disaster , they say they are working on fixing the economy , know for sure they are only stealing , infighting now they have marginalized all influence of the Akans the pepeni and ayigbe crminals are now looking to eliminate each other , they say they have found new investors know they have discovered new ways to exploit and channel our money away. they say our women are short and ugly but look at the stinking rats and vulture they can women in their tribes and you you will know ours are the most beautiful in the world . they say they want cooperation but they are only looking to rubbish or steal good projects . they say they want the well-being of the ordinary man but in reality they only want to line their pockets with money and push the Akan further into poverty . they say they want an all inclusive govt but know they just want cement northern and ayigbe domination with their slave tribes like the Gas and some foolish brainwashed brongs , ashantis , fantis assisting them. they say they are evaluating ministers and other appointees but it is now a battle between the ayigbe and the pepeni to reduce the number of ayigbe since the Akans are all already irrelevant in their govt although we are the majority in this land . everywhere you go you find pepeni vultures looking over the carcass of Ghana and tearing out the flesh of wealth for their own greedy selfish selves . they are comfortable now as the critical mass of the people still think things will get better little do they know its beyond repair and can only be remedied with an organized uprising of the Akan. the npp seems to be cleaning house and thanks to ken agyapong most likely true fighters will emerge who will not throw in the towel like nana addo did just before the true battle starts due to cowardice. yes we are ready and will never surrender to these thieves and criminals , long live the republic of Akan
Mankranso DCE, MSLC 11 years ago

Kofi Ata
What are you talking about?

You go to a job interview and you are asked to provide more details about yourself and you are angry?
Tweaaaaaaaa!

The Vetting committee did not even need a petition to ask the que ...
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Kofi Ata
What are you talking about?

You go to a job interview and you are asked to provide more details about yourself and you are angry?
Tweaaaaaaaa!

The Vetting committee did not even need a petition to ask the questions they put to Paul Afoko.

How can a man who aspires to lead a party have problems with divulging his previous address in London?

Please stop your anti-NPP nonsense and stop drawing these outlandish conclusions out of nothing.

You wrote volumes about Akuffo-Addo's oxford past.I bet you can't wait to pounce on the hapless Paul Afoko once he becomes chairman of the NPP.

If Paul Afoko cannot answer simple and very straight forward questions to his own party's vetting Committee without throwing tantrums then I am sorry but he is not fit to lead.
Fo Kwaku - Tanyingbe 11 years ago

YEN AKANFOUR PARTY

YEN AKANFOUR PARTY
Akadu Mensema 11 years ago

All parties have their political base Sir Tayinbe!

All parties have their political base Sir Tayinbe!
AMB 11 years ago

Of course you are a tribalist and an ass hole. You are a disgrace to the academia

Of course you are a tribalist and an ass hole. You are a disgrace to the academia

AMB 11 years ago

Kofi well done. The message is clear that a Northerner must never be Chairman or President. Jake has been accused severally of misappropriating party funds. What is the Committee doing about it? The intentions are clear. Afok ...
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Kofi well done. The message is clear that a Northerner must never be Chairman or President. Jake has been accused severally of misappropriating party funds. What is the Committee doing about it? The intentions are clear. Afoko loves the party so much thats why he is still hanging in there. I wish him all the best.
Moses 11 years ago

1. If you want to point out incorrect procedure in a party, you should just do that. There is no need to question the party's claims to being a party of law and order or what NDC could do with how the party handles its affair ...
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1. If you want to point out incorrect procedure in a party, you should just do that. There is no need to question the party's claims to being a party of law and order or what NDC could do with how the party handles its affairs. That bit shows where you are coming from and where you are heading to.

2. "Innocent until proven guilty” is legal procedure applicable in a court case. The Vetting Committee is not a law court obeying legal procedures. If the party is a "big family", they could do better than following the strictures of the law. If there are suspicions concerning Afoko, he could do the "big family" a lot of good by exerting himself in proving his innocence and clearing the air. He should make things easy for the VC.

3. "It is for the same reasons that I concluded that NPP is its own worst enemy because from the alleged petition, what would stop NDC from not tagging NPP with drugs?"

I think you mean "... what would stop NDC from tagging NPP with drugs?"

4. The journalists in Ghana reporting on our political affairs are some of the worst in the world. The Daily Guide is not a particularly good newspaper.

I will be very wary of writing commentary based on things I read in such a paper!!!
Tettey Dickson 11 years ago

Tell Ghanaians what is bias about what the guy has written. Is there no logic in it? Until we learn to appreciate our mistakes and correct them, we will continue to be making fools of ourselves all of the time. They guy has t ...
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Tell Ghanaians what is bias about what the guy has written. Is there no logic in it? Until we learn to appreciate our mistakes and correct them, we will continue to be making fools of ourselves all of the time. They guy has touched on both sides and explained why it is necessary for the party to make sure the allegations against Mr. Afoko is thoroughly investigated, to protect the image of the party, except that the way they are going about it was not the best. And you said this is bias? Well, that is your take on this.
Moses 11 years ago

Looks like you didn't understand my post. Re-read it carefully. You wrote that the guy has touched on both sides ... Which both sides? You mean the Vetting Committee's side and Afoko's side? That is not where my post says Ata ...
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Looks like you didn't understand my post. Re-read it carefully. You wrote that the guy has touched on both sides ... Which both sides? You mean the Vetting Committee's side and Afoko's side? That is not where my post says Ata is being biased. No!

Re-read especially my point no. 1 where I stated categorically that Ata has the right to point out bad procedures in the workings of the party (or a sub-section of it). The bias comes in when he goes on to draw larger conclusions about the party by implying: this is the party that claims it respects law and order, this is a party that is its own worst enemy, the party has done a similar mistake before (Akufo-Addo) so it is a party that is like that, the party is opening itself to accusations of ethnic bias, etc (a view he, Ata, believes. That is where Kofi Ata went overboard.

This makes the whole article read as if Ata is only out to find faults with NPP.

I am not a sympathizer of NPP but even I can smell something in the manner in which Ata is pointing out the faults of NPP. One can be critical of a party and still be neutral in that criticism.

My other 3 points have nothing to do with bias.
Agyenco 11 years ago

KOfi,your hatred for the Npp always betrays you in every article that you put out, notwithstanding your best of intentions. I was systematically following you thinking you were writing this piece based on principles until you ...
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KOfi,your hatred for the Npp always betrays you in every article that you put out, notwithstanding your best of intentions. I was systematically following you thinking you were writing this piece based on principles until your final paragraph gave you up. To buttress my point, I will quote exactly what you wrote.
''I wonder if these are the very people who are fighting to dislodge NDC from power. They claim they are the only party that can rescue Ghana from its current economic hardships. If they cannot even get this right how could they manage Ghana?''
Kofi, the above assertion makes you an NDC fanatic. Haven't you heard Papa Kwasi Nduom and his PPP also bragging that they are the only party that can deliver Ghana from the economic mess NDC have got us into even though he couldn't help to solve the CPP internal problems.
Kofi, does it mean that if you are not able to solve a family problem, you should not be allowed to hold any managerial position in the company where you earn your livin?
Ghana is now a Church where the Bible says if you are not able to rule your house you should not be given a place in the management of it's affairs. This is Kofi Atta's hypothesis.
I love to read your articles but for heavens sake, you must always show your true colour.
I shall meet you in Liverpool Street if you happen to be in London to discuss this issue with you further.
Cheers!
LONTO-BOY 11 years ago

MASSA KOFI, the NPP problem in the Northern regions is predominantly that of perception. If this story as reported by the Daily Guide[if only it can be regarded as a credible source] and revealed here is indeed true, then the ...
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MASSA KOFI, the NPP problem in the Northern regions is predominantly that of perception. If this story as reported by the Daily Guide[if only it can be regarded as a credible source] and revealed here is indeed true, then the conduct of the NPP Vetting Committee and its handling of Mr Paul Afoko's allegation, in my view, is embarrassingly incompetent and disgraceful.

I believe regardless of individual's ethnic, geographic background and clique within a party, vying for such prominent party/national positions should be scrutinised thoroughly to stop embarrassing and damaging revelations that could cause the party at General Elections. Of course, any allegations about Mr Paul Afoko should be investigated thoroughly. However, the conduct of the Vetting Committee and the unfriendly, but rather steely and determined way questions were asked of Mr Paul Afoko appears as an interrogation at a "Disciplinary/Criminal" proceedings rather than standard Vetting procedure. It does seem Mr Afoko is being targeted to block his chairmanship.

The conduct of the Vetting Committee speaks volumes of the unprofessional management of the party. These security and criminal background checks should have been part of the filled out forms by the candidates. Again, the Vetting Committee should have demanded critical pieces of evidence from whoever brought this allegation against Mr Afoko, unless it was a dirty trick by a powerful manipulating clique to discredit Mr Afoko. I believe Mr Paul Afoko could be a good representation in the NPP leadership to help drum up support for the party in the Northern regions.

One thing is for sure, this doesn't help NPP's image and perception 'up north'. I think this is quite damaging to how the NPP is being viewed by many non-Akans. It's worrying how the poor handling of Mr Afoko's allegation is directly and indirectly alienating people from the 'up North'.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 11 years ago

My good and objective brother, LONTO-BOY, I would not go that far to suggest that NPP has a Northern problem. I agree with you that it's perception because NPP has had two Northerners as Vice-President and Vice-Presidential c ...
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My good and objective brother, LONTO-BOY, I would not go that far to suggest that NPP has a Northern problem. I agree with you that it's perception because NPP has had two Northerners as Vice-President and Vice-Presidential candidate. NDC also had Northerns as Vice-Presidential candidates and Vice-President and now President. The sudden death and the closeness of the general election at the time of the death President Atta-Mills left NDC with no choice but to install Mahama as the candidate. A long fought out flagbearership contest would have damaged the party. In other words NDC and NPP have very similar records.

You always enrich articles with your contributions and it's pleasing to read your contributions.

I wished those who accuse me of being bias or anti NPP would be objective and be honest to themselves regarding the contents of the article. However, I must admit that we cannot all be objective and that is the reality of the world. I also accept that my objectivity could be someone's subjectivity.
Moses 11 years ago

Just point out the procedural faults in the VC's actions and let the writer deduce the wider implications for the party generally. But now, you make categorical assertions that do not put you out as objective. There ARE stand ...
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Just point out the procedural faults in the VC's actions and let the writer deduce the wider implications for the party generally. But now, you make categorical assertions that do not put you out as objective. There ARE standards of objectivity!

LONTO-BOY is a 'nice guy' who wouldn't point this out to you as bluntly as others do.
BOY KOFI 11 years ago

Afoko has himself to blame,he went into the race with divisive tactics and he deserves what he is going through.Thank you.

Afoko has himself to blame,he went into the race with divisive tactics and he deserves what he is going through.Thank you.
LUCAS 11 years ago

If what Kofi has said in respect of the interview is true, then there is something seriously wrong with the Ashanti tribal group. Furthermore, I am saddened for the fact that Ayikoi Otoo is part of the ploy against Mr. Afoko. ...
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If what Kofi has said in respect of the interview is true, then there is something seriously wrong with the Ashanti tribal group. Furthermore, I am saddened for the fact that Ayikoi Otoo is part of the ploy against Mr. Afoko. It is very clear and what the hell is that hopeless bigot called Akadu Mensema trying to justify with the insults directed to Kofi? Unless he has no single brain in his head, which I´m very sure he hasn´t. Where lies the fairness in the way they treated this man? And idiots like Parry Akurrang would just get up and insult! A stupid idiot like him! Hijo de perra like him! Hilipolla like him! It is about time the northerners think very fast. For how long would they continue to follow these hopeless and primitive species! What are they talking about? If this man is one of them, would they have treated him the way they did? Doesn´t he deserve to be treated in a dignified way like anyone else? These are the things who are telling us to give them power, so the stupid idiots like Akadu and his ally, the mad dog Ahoofe can be given positions in their government. What do they think they are? There was another useless one telling Nyaho Tamakloe that he is suffering from inferiority complex, just because the man was telling and teaching them sense that they do not have. We can not wait for 2016. A dangerous tribal bigots that Ghana could ever have. Yen Akanfou and the rest are still fresh in our minds. It is time for the northernes to call it a quit from this tribal idiots.

Agyenco 11 years ago

Kofi, how objective is your article. Is coining a hypothesis which is operational in church houses a sign of objectivity? As long as you continue to write biased articles, constructive thinkers will always take you on. You ca ...
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Kofi, how objective is your article. Is coining a hypothesis which is operational in church houses a sign of objectivity? As long as you continue to write biased articles, constructive thinkers will always take you on. You can't eat your cake and have it.
I expect you to fulfill our appointment at Liverpool Street. Kofi better come to London to broaden your horizon. Cheers!
BOY KOFI 11 years ago

NPP does better business than NDC.THank you.

NPP does better business than NDC.THank you.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 11 years ago

I must apologise for being unable to respond to individual critics. I just want to point out that the whole article was based on the premise of the "if" contained in the first paragraph. That is, if what was reported in the D ...
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I must apologise for being unable to respond to individual critics. I just want to point out that the whole article was based on the premise of the "if" contained in the first paragraph. That is, if what was reported in the Daily Guide interview with Paul Afoko is accurate. If it turns out to be false, then I will be honest to post a rejoinder to offer an apology to the Vetting Committee and the party. In that case, then Mr Akofo's position would be untenable and probably not fit for the position he is seeking to contest.

However, as at the time I sent the article to Ghanaweb on Thursday evening (Feb 19,2014), there were no indications from either the party or the Vetting Committee to suggest that Mr Afoko's version of events as reported are inaccurate. I appreciate that the Committee may not want to conduct its business in public but the allegations made against them were serious enough to damage both the Committee and the party if left without a response.

For those who believe that this article is biased and I am anti NPP, I cannot change your views. I would not pretend to be neutral because I have a view on NDC/NPP political hegemony but I am also not anti-NPP. In fact, I do not want a defacto one party state in Ghana and wish NPP to be a strong party in opposition ready to form a government. I do point out mistakes of NDC and criticise them as well and not a fundamentalist about the party or President Mahama (as one reader confessed in his comment on my article on Ghanaweb last week Sunday).

Indeed, my criticisms of both NPP and NDC is to make them better and that is what I have done in this article by suggesting how the Vetting Committee could have handled the Afoko matter. I did not say that the Committee should have closed their eyes over the allegations contained in the petition.

I also avoided the South versus North argument by deliberately avoiding comparison with the allegations against Jake and Sir John by Kennedy Agyapong. Though I am aware that the accuser appeared before the NPP Disciplinary Committee, we are unaware of the outcome and whether the allegations are no longer of interest to the party.

Regarding the interpretation of my last sentence, I still stand by it not because I believe NDC is better than NPP. In fact, my view so far is that neither of the two parties are capable of addressing Ghana's development needs by embarking on a programme that will reduce poverty in Ghana. They are the same. Why I do say so?

I have said many times that, the biggest challenge facing Ghana as a nation in the efforts to move the country forward is not corruption but the inability or the unwillingness of the authorities to enforce the laws, rules and regulations as well as Ghanaians disrespect for and refusal to obey the laws, rules and regulations. Corruption is only a symptom of the indiscipline, lawlessness and the impunity in Ghana. No nation on earth has developed in the midst of lawlessness, indiscipline and impunity. I have not seen anything in both NDC and NPP that could persuade me to believe that any of the two parties is capable of ensuring that the laws, rules and regulations are enforced and obeyed in Ghana. Ghana can produce 1 billion barrels of oil a day but and sadly without discipline through the effective enforcement of the laws, rules and regulations through the rule of law, the billions of dollars from the sale of oil will be wasted as in Nigeria. I ma not a prophet of doom but that is my view.

So far NDC has been a failure and Mahama has failed in his first year, he has three more years. At the same time NPP still needs to persuade the Ghanaian electorate that they are capable of doing better than NDC. They should not take things for granted that because of NDC's failure they can just say they the only party to solve Ghana's problems and they will get the vote. They must persuade the electorate and that is what I meant by my last sentence (if I were an independent voter). Remember, most Ghanaian voters may vote on religious, party, ethnic, regional and other affiliations and not on performance. That is the reality so if that makes me anti NPP and pro NDC, that is fine.

At lest, I take consolation from the fact that NDC also accuse of being biased against them through my articles because I criticise their performance. In fact, some of my former colleagues who are in government refuse to even talk to me because they see me as anti-NDC. Are these indication that I am being fair to both NDC and NPP? Perhaps.! The fact is that my articles are not meant to be anti or pro NDC/NPP but for debates on the issues I raise therein. So so far, I am tempted to believe that I am achieving my objectives from the diversity of views expressed by readers. Let's continue the debate even if some think I am anti-NPP and pro NDC.
BOY KOFI 11 years ago

In a very close analysis NPP is better in both govt busines and private than NDC.During the Prof.Mills administration,Ghana marked the highest GDP and the lowest Inflation rate but the socio-economic impact was very negative. ...
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In a very close analysis NPP is better in both govt busines and private than NDC.During the Prof.Mills administration,Ghana marked the highest GDP and the lowest Inflation rate but the socio-economic impact was very negative.On with all the contrary,Kuffour made positive socio-economic impact on the majority of the people with a very scanty resources.That makes the difference with all the oil cash.I will not go into governance where NDC have abndoned all the well meaning projects of previous NPP administration for reasons best known to them.If I have to choose between the 2 evils,I will definately choose NPP in 2016.Thank you.
Kojo T 11 years ago

K4 came in as NDC had laid a good foundation. NPP destroyed it. What good did NPP bring to the table? failed capitalism? Where are the jobs and the investments?

K4 came in as NDC had laid a good foundation. NPP destroyed it. What good did NPP bring to the table? failed capitalism? Where are the jobs and the investments?
BOY KOFI 11 years ago

Let's be a bit objective for once.Abraham Lincoln is a republican but he is Prez Obama's model even though they don't belong to the same party.I am saying that the social-economic impact on the people with the scare resource, ...
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Let's be a bit objective for once.Abraham Lincoln is a republican but he is Prez Obama's model even though they don't belong to the same party.I am saying that the social-economic impact on the people with the scare resource,Kuffour did better than all the 3 different NDC regimes combined.You should be asking NDC where are the jobs with all the 14% and 9% inflation rate during Mills administration?If you are for NDC then please tell them to get real,nobody wants them in power for another 4 years.After all,then have enjoyed 2 terms,let them go back to the drawing board because it stinks.Thank you.
Agyenco 11 years ago

Kofi I don't have any issue with your beef on the modus operandus of Afoko's vetting. My argument is about your final verdict deduced from your question as to the competence of Npp in handling the management of the economy. ...
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Kofi I don't have any issue with your beef on the modus operandus of Afoko's vetting. My argument is about your final verdict deduced from your question as to the competence of Npp in handling the management of the economy. Objectivity would have been realised if you had not posed your question as if Npp is not fit for purpose. Thanks for your quick response to queries.
Ebo Mends, New York 11 years ago

Kofi, you are absolutely right. One person's objective analysis is another person's subjective one. The Daily Guide is not a pro-NDC paper so writing about Afoko's vetting based on interview granted to that paper, to me, is ...
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Kofi, you are absolutely right. One person's objective analysis is another person's subjective one. The Daily Guide is not a pro-NDC paper so writing about Afoko's vetting based on interview granted to that paper, to me, is fair.

As for the critics, well, you should be used to them by now. I share your view that to some, you are only objective when you castigate their opponents. In fact, I am one of those who have had the occasion to mention that you are, at times, very harsh on the NDC government. That notwithstanding, I appreciate your efforts to be objective, something that is not easy to achieve in our hyper-partisan environment.

We as a people should view issues through a critical lens, and be able to see good things in those who may not belong to our political/ideological persuasion.
crorkz 11 years ago

XVpeBQ Really appreciate you sharing this article. Really Great.

XVpeBQ Really appreciate you sharing this article. Really Great.

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The Afoko Brouhaha, Is NPP its Own Worst Enemy?

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