Posted: Daily Guide | Friday, 11 February 2011
www.dailyguideghana.com
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kobina Ivor Greenstreet, has asked the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stop its hypocrisy; spare the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, their tantrums over his ‘all die be die’ comments; and concentrate on the affairs of state.
Mr. Greenstreet believed the NDC was making a case out of nothing because Nana Addo’s comments were in no way an inference to violence come 2012, stressing that what the ruling party was doing was just “an orchestration to make him appear unelectable”.
This, he said, was because the NPP presidential candidate’s comment was one directed at internal party members to prepare them for what he called ‘the metaphorical political battle’.
The CPP General Secretary was speaking on X.FM’s ‘Big Bite’ programme yesterday, touting Nana Addo as a man who hates violence and has been fighting for the rights of the individual, emphasizing that what the NDC was doing was their own way of denigrating their opponents.
Nana Addo had asked his party supporters at a forum in Koforidua on Tuesday to stand firm and not to allow themselves to be intimidated. He said they should get ready to meet the NDC boot-for-boot in the 2012 elections.
He was quoted to have said, "We need to be bold and courageous for 2012 because Ghanaians need us to come to power", stressing, “They (NDC) have intentions to intimidate us in 2012 because they believe that we are soft and cowards.
If that is the thinking, then we shall see. At least, during the Atiwa by-election, we showed a little of our colours there.”
He added, "You must understand that this party was formed by courageous people. Our leaders who formed this party that has now become the biggest political movement in Ghana were not cowards. So in 2012, we need to be courageous because all 'die be die'. All die be die," he said.
This is what has triggered leading members of the NDC including the party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah to launch a series of blistering attacks on Nana Addo.
“Nana Addo’s personal political history should be able to tell Ghanaians that he does not believe in violence; he does not believe in subverting the rule of law and the constitutional provision which protects all Ghanaians.
Rather on the contrary, he has been an individual who over many years has fought for the right of Ghanaians, has fought for the opening up of the political space, for freedom of association and for freedom of speech”, noted the CPP General Secretary.
For this reason, Mr Greenstreet said, “I think that it was more of an internal matter that he was speaking to his own rank and file, trying to get them prepared and ready for the struggle ahead.”
Instead of punching holes and finding faults in Nana Addo’s comments, the CPP General Secretary asked the NDC to focus on delivering the so-called ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ they promised Ghanaians and stop building mountains out of molehills, saying, “It is clear that the incumbent NDC government has a definite strategy to try and create the impression that Nana Addo is some kind of cocaine smuggler, violent and some kind of ‘gidigidi’ human being; but I think what they need to concentrate on doing is to show Ghanaians what their strategies are and what they are working on and stop spending time trying to pick on every word Nana Addo has to say and paint it in a certain light to the public.”
NDC On Nana
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah asked the NPP to take steps to remove Nana Addo as its presidential candidate since, in his opinion, the actions and words of the opposition leader were inimical to Ghana's democracy.
He took issue with Nana Addo’s comments, describing him as a war monger who must be sacked by the NPP.
This, according to him, was because “the violence that characterized the Atiwa by-election was part of an orchestrated and a well rehearsed grand design to plunge this nation into chaos during the 2012 elections”, emphasizing that “Nana Akufo-Addo has reconfirmed his credentials as a war monger who will stop at nothing in his bid to pursue his selfish political ambition of becoming President at all cost even if it means plunging this nation into civil and tribal war.”
The NDC called on the NPP presidential candidate to withdraw what they described as “these unfortunate statements and apologise unconditionally to all Ghanaians, particularly his own party for putting them into such an awkward and embarrassing situation by these utterances.”
NPP Hits Back
In a sharp and swift rebuttal to the NDC’s press conference, NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie said Nana Akufo-Addo had nothing to apologise for.
He sent a clear message to the ruling party that the NPP would not allow the democratic will of the majority of Ghanaians to be abused by intimidation, violence or electoral fraud in 2012.
Instead, he said, “Our flagbearer’s firm and uncompromising position on ensuring a clean contest in 2012 is based on the extra-electoral tactics employed by the NDC in Akwatia, Chereponi and Atiwa and the shocking inaction of the security personnel in the face of such blatant acts of intimidation, violence and electoral malpractices.”
In a statement, the NPP warned: “Let them not think that we would give them a free hand at repeating these unhealthy practices in 2012. NPP will be no rollover in 2012”, calling on its activists and supporters to stand firm and defend their democratic rights.
In that regard, the NPP has turned down the suggestion by the NDC for its presidential candidate to apologise for those comments since “the NPP is proud to be led by a man who would not stand by and allow Ghanaians to be cheated” and that “the NPP will continue to express, through both our words and deeds, that we are deeply committed to the democratic process.”
The NPP has consequently asked the ruling NDC to stop the diversionary tactics and focus on doing what is important, asking them to fix the economy and deliver on their promise of a ‘Better Ghana’ since “propaganda will not pay school fees; it will not reduce the cost of living or create jobs.”
The statement said: “It is not for the NDC to define to Ghanaians who Nana Akufo-Addo is. For over 35 years that Nana Akufo-Addo has been at the forefront of fighting the Ghanaian cause - for political freedom, human rights, democracy, opportunities and prosperity - Nana Akufo-Addo never once used any instrument of violence as his weapon.
“True to the character of the founders of our political tradition, Nana Akufo-Addo has used his courage, wisdom, words and legitimate persuasion to help bring about the kind of democratic environment that we are all enjoying today, which the NPP is committed to protecting and enhancing,” the statement said noting, “Nana Akufo-Addo's record speaks for itself.
“His contribution to both national and international peace and freedom can never be wished away by the programmed amplifiers of false propaganda. It is a hopeless endeavour destined to fail.”
The UK and Ireland branch of the NPP has also declared an unflinching support for Nana Addo’s comments.
A statement issued and signed by its Communications Officer, Nana Yaw Sarpong said Nana Akufo-Addo is also right to ask party members to remain steadfast, disciplined and focused, as well as prepare to sacrifice, and work hard for the party to come to power in 2012.
Nana Akufo-Addo’s comments raised serious concerns about the attitude and machinations of the National Democratic Congress and its leadership under President John Evans Atta Mills and the current attempts to undermine the peace and security of Ghana without honoring its numerous promises to the Ghanaian people, as well as the seeming lack of political will from civil society to address this menace, citing several instances in which members of the ruling party visited brutality on members of the NPP including those at the Kokomba market in Accra, Chereponi and Atiwa be-elections to back their claims.
Four people mainly NPP supporters were butchered by NDC goons with impunity in broad-day light in front of a Police Station at Agbogbloshie in 2009, a few weeks after NDC had assumed power, with no arrest made since then.