The Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, says Ghanaians should be grateful to Craig Murray for disallowing the NDC to steal their verdict in the 2000 elections. Mr Murray is a former British diplomat who claims to have been instrumental in ensuring a free and fair election in 2000. He wrote in his book – ‘The Catholic Orangeman of Togo & Other Conflicts I have Known’- page 124-126 – that but for his contribution along with others, the NDC was going to use the power of incumbency to rig the elections. Mr Murray detailed the sequence of events that took place in both strongholds of the then government and that of the opposition NPP as well as what went on at the Electoral Commission, amid alleged intimidation of Electoral Commissioner Dr Afari-Djan’s family. Nana Akomea, contributing to discussions on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme Friday, urged all Ghanaians to pay attention to the facts in Craig Murray’s comments and leave out his personal life history as dwelling on that would cloud people’s minds, disallowing them to see the merits of his revelations. The NPP MP described Craig Murray as someone who had an abiding belief that the 2000 elections was going to be rigged and did more than making pronouncements like others were doing to ensure the people’s will was granted. He actually took steps to ensure that the grounds were fair and equitable to ensure a result that truly reflected the will of the people – doing things that were daring and brave -, the MP noted. In Nana Akomea’s view, Murray has been consistent in speaking his mind concerning anything he views as incorrect - even if they are not exactly wrong – he spoke against certain things happening at the foreign and commonwealth office in his country and run into problems with his Prime Minister, a situation that finally led to his dismissal from office. Murray also spoke against the NPP concerning the ZACHEM and BOLCUM agreement, even though he [Murray] had ensured the NPP were not cheated in the 2000 elections. The Okaikoi South MP condemned his party’s action when those allegations were made, saying “that is what we should not do, deal with the issue…” He suggested that Murray’s story should be verified by contacting those whose names were mentioned in his book to either confirm or deny. “…I am happy that this is a man of principles, he may be a little reckless in his personal life… but you could see that on principle this is a man who stands for what he believes” Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was a co-panelist on the show, said he was not surprised Nana Akomea was paying glowing tribute to Craig Murray because Murray’s principles coincided with that of the NPP to the extent that Murray was sitting in NPP strategic meetings. Mr Ablakwa said informal discussions he had with some key personalities mentioned in the book but they disagreed with Murray’s accounts of events. By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana