Audio By Carbonatix
Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Education, has said the manifestation of the observations and some predictions made by Dr Arthur Kennedy, in his book Chasing the Elephant into the Bush: the Politics of Complacency makes him a prophet.
He said after reading Dr Kenedy's book, which was published after the 2008 elections, he concluded that the NPP needed to heed the advice of the former Presidential aspirant to progress as a party.
Referring to a long passage from Arthur Kennedy's book, he read:
"Throughout the [2012 Presidential and Parliamentary] campaign, we never agreed on who was the target for our advertising and media campaign. Some favoured the harsh, confrontational, take-no-prisoners approach, while others favoured the moderate, respectful, throw-no-bombs approach that appeals to floating voters, women and apolitical people.
"While the difference was not significant, for instance in billboards, it mattered for instance in those who were put on air and how they came across to the public. Often after an appearance, while independent [minds] were calling to commend me for being reasonable and effective, party big-wigs will complain that 'you did not go after them hard enough".
Okudzeto Ablakwa is convinced the preference to confrontational communication is what has landed Sir John into this criminal contempt conviction.
He said until the NPP "changes its ways, the colossal disgrace it suffered this week [on Wednesday at the Supreme Court] would certainly befall them and keep befalling them time and time again."
The Supreme Court hearing the 2012 Presidential election petition on Wednesday August 14 convicted NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie and a party communicator, Hopeson Adorye, for intentional criminal contempt.
The party's General Secretary and Mr Adorye were fined GH¢ 5,000 and GH¢ 2,000 respectively for dragging the Judges and the Court's name into disrepute. They were also asked to retract their contemptuous comments and sign a bond of good behaviour.
However, speaking on Alhaji and Alhaji on Radio Gold on Saturday, Okudzeto-Ablakwa noted Arthur Kennedy on several pages of the book warned the NPP leadership to change their violent and confrontational approach towards politicking but instead he [Arthur Kenedy] was vilified by the entire party.
He said Dr Kennedy, who was then the party communicator, was removed from his post after publishing the book and the NPP members he criticised for their violent behaviour were instead elected into party leadership.
"Nobody can convince me that members of the NPP delegates conference did not know that these were the traits and these were the statements that [Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie] was noted to be making [before appointing him]", said Okudzeto-Ablakwa.
According to Okudzeto-Ablakwa the NPP leadership must act to purge its ranks of abusive communicators by first demanding the resignation of the party's General Secretary - or sack him if he refuses to do so.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
SIM registration biometric verification to begin before end of 2026 – Sam George
1 minute -
Full Text: Sam George’s speech at Government Accountability Series
4 minutes -
One million coders programme records 141,954 registrations, 27,782 active learners
10 minutes -
Gov’t moves to upgrade rural 2G, 3G networks to 4G – Sam George
11 minutes -
Akaa Assembly Member appeals for telecom mast over poor network coverage
16 minutes -
Cybersecurity Authority responds to 3,363 incidents in six months – Sam George
17 minutes -
Ghanaians now get more data for less money- Sam George
18 minutes -
MTN commits US$1.1bn to Ghana network expansion after 5G reforms – Communications Minister
20 minutes -
Ahafo Clergy call for stronger action against galamsey and Tano river pollution
21 minutes -
GMSA calls for protection of Muslim students’ religious rights in mission schools
24 minutes -
MTN cuts 100 Mbps fibre package from GH¢987 to GH¢299 – Sam George
25 minutes -
Sam George touts lower data costs, enhanced DStv value under Mahama
27 minutes -
Women’s Football: Sharon Sampson, Evelyn Badu and top performers from the weekend
27 minutes -
NACOC warns of rising cannabis addiction among children in Volta through toffees, soft drinks
28 minutes -
3,372 BECE candidates without results to get second chance to resit exam
28 minutes