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The fault lies in
Akufo-Addo, not Kufuor
By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Folks, there is so much going on in the NPP camp to
suggest that the party’s internal crisis is caused
more by factionalism than any act of betrayal of
trust by NDC moles therein. Much has been said about
the two factions—the Akufo-Addo one and that of
ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor. Some have denied
the existence of such factions and claimed the party
remains united for Election 2016. Happenings,
however, belie such claims, especially if we
consider how Akufo-Addo and his followers are
recklessly attacking their opponents. Now that they
have branded some as NDC moles planted in the party
to dim Akufo-Addo’s electoral light, hell has broken
loose.
Beyond it all is the perception of Kufuor as a
threat to Akufo-Addo, which warrants discussion. And
when you read opinion pieces from Akufo-Addo buffs,
you feel like puking. (See
http://www.modernghana.com/news/654782/1/kufuor-has-been-sabotaging-akufo-addo-since-2008.html).
Okoampah-Ahoofe is none to bat an eyelid over, but
his attack on Kufuor speaks volumes.
Irrespective of our often critically condemnatory
assessment of Kufuor’s performance in the 8 years
that he ruled Ghana, we acknowledge the fact that
putting everything aside, he is a gentleman who
knows how to cut his steps to sustain his personal
dignity and integrity. In office, many things
happened to portray him in a negative light, but he
could be pardoned, even if accused of pandering to
the forces manipulating the situation at the time.
Of course, he was at the beck and call of the real
power brokers calling the tune. No need to
expatiate, but suffice it to say that he did his
best in the 8 years that he ruled. The rest belongs
to history.
In preparing for Election 2008, he ensured that the
NPP remained intact and that every genuine supporter
of the party stuck to its ideals. For the records,
let it be said that Kufuor protected the NPP and
secured it as a united force for anybody who would
succeed him as the leader of the party. He cleaned
the stables and expected his successor to uphold
standards. Of course, the 19 that sought the
flagbearership knew what was at stake, which was why
they heavily invested themselves in the quest.
Kufuor had some lingering issues, though. Having
worked for 8 years with the late Alhaji Aliu Mahama,
one expected him to ardently support his
candidature. But he didn’t, which cast some huge
doubts over his sense of judgement and the NPP’s
negative image as an Akan-based party that won’t
tolerate non-Akans as its leader. If after all those
years, Aliu didn’t merit Kufuor’s
recommendation/support as the requisite successor,
there must be something seriously wrong; not so?
Here too, the rest belongs to history.
The choice of Akufo-Addo as the flagbearer for
Election 2008 had its peculiar ramifications,
especially considering the circumstances under which
he emerged as such. There was much huffing and
puffing at the delegates conference, which needed a
second round of voting because Akufo-Addo couldn’t
get the outright majority to outdo Kyerematen. Much
happened for Kyerematen to bow out and allow
Akufo-Addo to proceed as the NPP’s flagbearer. In
effect, the second round didn’t take place.
Kyerematen would later nurse ill-feelings and resign
from the NPP only to eat back his vomit. That’s a
sticking point still used against him by his
opponents.
For Election 2008, what didn’t Kufuor do to promote
Akufo-Addo’s bid for the Presidency? After all, he
had his fingers on the national purse and made
resources available. He did all he could in the
electioneering campaign stunts to “sell” Akufo-Addo
to the electorate. I recall his participation in
many rallies at which the “kangaroo dance” featured.
And he spoke at length about why it was imperative
for Ghanaians to root for Akufo-Addo. Kufuor even
smoothed Akufo-Addo’s path beyond such overt means.
He ensured that the Manhyia Palace accept Akufo-Addo
as his replacement. At a point, when Akufo-Addo
visited the Manhyia Palace, the
Asantehene assured him that as the
head of the Oyoko family, wherever he went, so would
his followers; and Akufo-Addo’s being a member of
the Oyoko family meant that he already had the
backing of those followers. Here again, the rest
belongs to history. What more could Kufuor do?
The outcome of Election 2008 indicated clearly that
the fault lay in Akufo-Addo himself, especially when
he lost the run-off and sought to use the backdoor
for redress. Thanks to the late B.J. da Rocha and
Kufuor’s sound intervention, Akufo-Addo couldn’t
subvert the will of the electorate. He grudgingly
accepted defeat and nursed hopes of taking a second
bite at the next polls, which he did only to suffer
a more humiliating defeat. Here too, the rest
belongs to history.
In tracing the direct impact of Kufuor on
Akufo-Addo’s electoral escapades, we are conscious
of the circumstances surrounding the political lives
of Kufuor and Akufo-Addo. Of course, Kufuor has more
to be proud of than Akufo-Addo, having been part of
Dr. Busia’s government in the 2nd Republic (a Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs) and being detained by
the Acheampong government for 18 months. Kufuor has
never broken ranks with the UP political culture and
is known for it.
How about Akufo-Addo? Cast your mind back to the
events leading to Paa Willie’s breaking away from
the UP (Asante) culture to form his United National
Convention and what Akufo-Addo did therein and you
should see things more clearly. The UNC head-butted
Victor Owusu’s Popular Front Party (PFP), that was
mostly Asante-based and dominated. In the end, a
resurrected pro-Nkrumahist People’s National
Convention (PNP) won the 1979 general elections.
Whatever happened thereafter belongs to history too.
Fast forward everything to this 4th Republic and you
should begin to see why any talk of Kufuor’s
antipathy toward Akufo-Addo becomes nothing but
absurdity. For Election 1992, the NPP settled for
Professor Adu Boahen only to end up writing _The
Stolen Verdict_ when rejected by the electorate.
Akufo-Addo claims credit for being part of those who
wrote that trash.
For Election 1996, Kufuor and Akufo-Addo stood tall
among the contestants who gathered at the Sunyani
Catholic Social Centre to choose the party’s
flagbearer. The “feud” between Kufuor and Akufo-Addo
began at this conference. Snippets of information at
the time revealed that delegates were bribed (in
fact, that some were being given money at the
lavatory). When Kufuor emerged victorious,
Akufo-Addo went ballistic and badmouthed him. We
recall very well Akufo-Addo’s effusive comment: “If
you (meaning Kufuor) claim to be a lawyer, tell us
whose law chamber you practised in”. Akufo-Addo’s
raving and ranting in anger didn’t go unnoticed.
Whatever happened thereafter belongs to history too.
Settle down on Elections 2000 and 2004 when Kufuor
went unopposed and find out why he coped with
Akufo-Addo as his appointee for the
Attorney-General’s Department and Ministry of
Justice. Then, rewind what shame Akufo-Addo’s loss
of the suit against Tsatsu Tsikata over the Fast
Track Court caused and why Kufuor moved him to the
Foreign Affairs Ministry. Then, put everything in
perspective toward Election 2008. The circle is
rounded for us to see what we need to know that
Kufuor isn’t a detractor of Akufo-Addo. Instead, he
is bothered that Akufo-Addo isn’t able to retain the
NPP in power (at Election 2008) or return it to
power (at Election 2012 and what is upcoming in
2016).
Folks, those Akufo-Addo lackeys constantly blaming
Kufuor for not supporting Akufo-Addo are looking for
dung where no cattle grazed. Those among them
insulting him are worsening the matter for their
sacred cow, especially if we consider how much
Kufuor is cherished at home and why any vilification
of him means a huge electoral loss. As of now, he
has remained tight-lipped over the rumpus generated
by Akufo-Addo’s incompetent and erratic leadership
flaws. He is simply not talking, which is another
issue bothering the Akufo-Addo camp.
We want to say at this point that even though his
spokesman (Frank Agyekum) and former press relations
officer (Andrew Awuni) have openly condemned the
suspension of Paul Afoko, there is nothing directly
coming from him. He knows better not to insert
himself into a fracas that he foresaw (at least as
can be inferred from his passionate appeal to the
NPP delegates in 2007 not to choose any flagbearer
who was divisive, who couldn’t keep the NPP united,
and who couldn’t have a national appeal to be
elected as President). In this regard, Kufuor knows
better to let those deceiving themselves that they
can go it alone to do so. At the end of the day,
when the end refuses to justify the means, they will
learn to shape up. There is nothing wrong with this
stance.
So, folks, we are at home. We can say that those in
the Akufo-Addo camp blaming Kufuor for their woes
need to do more to be able to know what is at stake.
For Akufo-Addo, especially, there is a lot of
homework. If he really knows what is at stake, he
will redefine his modus operandi and hasten slowly.
That is, if his bloated ego will allow him to see
things beyond his nose. His lack of appeal to the
electorate has nothing to do with the activities of
a so-called Kufuor faction. Truly, the fault lies in
him, not in Kufuor. Only Akufo-Addo can redeem
himself!!
I shall return…
• E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com
• Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor
to continue the conversation.
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