Communication director of Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (FONKAR), Dela Coffie, says the only reason why Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo-Addo, flag bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) wants to win the 2012 general elections is so he can control the country’s oil.
According to Dela Coffie, Nana Akufo-Addo through his utterances and actions has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he would employ fair or foul means to emerge as president after the 2012 elections to enrich himself with the oil revenue.
He was reacting to comments by Nana Akufo-Addo who is currently at the Africa Conference in Germany as the key note speaker. Nana Addo is reported to have stated that the stake of power in Ghana has been heightened due to the discovery of oil in commercial quantities.
The NPP flagbearer added that any of the presidential candidates who emerges winner in next year’s elections would have a lot to grapple with in addressing the problems of the state because of the heightened expectations of the people.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who was delivering a speech on the topic “Africa’s role model, Democracy and elections in Ghana” also emphasized the need for the Electoral Commission (EC) to include in the biometric voter registration system, an electronic verification mechanism at every polling station to guard against multiple registration and voting.
But Dela Coffie on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, argued that the claim by Nana Akufo-Addo that the oil discovery has heightened the stakes of power in the country is palpably false.
He explained that in the 1992 and 1996 general elections, the stakes for power were very high when the country had not yet discovered oil in commercial quantities and that the oil find should not have been the basis for his (Nana Addo's) position.
“Because of oil, Nana Addo would do everything to become president. It is not proper for a presidential candidate to be talking about the need for him to become president as a result of Ghana discovering oil” he bemoaned.
The NDC youth activist noted that the NPP flgabearer's unfortunate comments in Germany is just a metamorphosis of the ‘All die be die’ mantra he has been chanting just to win power in 2012.
“Nana Addo should not be talking about issues like this in a conference where he had an opportunity to address issue and tell people your policy statements and what you intend to do”.
Dela Coffie observed that Nana Akufo-Addo should have been more responsible in his comments and used the opportunity offered him to market himself as a formidable candidate to challenge President J.E.A. Mills in 2012.
On the possible boycott of next year’s elections by the NPP, Dela Coffie opined that it is just an attempt by the opposition party to intimidate the EC and create the impression that the Commission and government are conniving to rig the elections; a situation he says is an attempt by the opposition to win public sympathy.
Dela Coffie who sounded very surprised at the posture of the NPP assured Ghanaians of government’s commitment in ensuring fair, transparent and successful election in 2012.
Meanwhile, James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called Kabila, who was a panelist on the programme described Dela Coffie’s assertions as very erroneous.
Kabila who was appalled by the claims explained that Nana Akufo-Addo, as far back as 1998, contested the NPP primaries which he lost to former President Kufuor in Sunyani, hence it would not be fair to denigrate his personality just because of a harmless comment he made about the oil find.
Kabila further argued that Nana Akufo-Addo's comment is just a note of caution since it would be wrong for anybody to think that the oil resource would not have an impact in next year’s elections.
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
-
NPP’s gold reserve policy laid foundation for Ghana’s economic stability – Kabiru Tia
53 seconds -
AMMREN commends outgoing NMEP manager for remarkable leadership in malaria elimination efforts
5 minutes -
Only 20% of exiting lecturers replaced – Kofi Asare backs UTAG’s call for staffing
11 minutes -
JoyNews responds to UG, UG-UTAG’s claims of unprofessional reportage over A-G report
27 minutes -
High rate of youth in gambling a cause for concern – GHACOE
2 hours -
Mahama admits inheriting $8.98bn reserves from previous government
2 hours -
Financial institutions urged to support innovation, sustainability in the Agric sector
2 hours -
Ex-Finance Minister calls for tougher reforms to curb Ghana’s tax revenue leakages
2 hours -
Mahama calls for investment in value chains with high growth potential at 3rd Ghana-EU Business Forum
2 hours -
Cedi stability can’t be attributed to GoldBod – Kabiru Tiah
3 hours -
Jennifer Lopez sued for posting photos of herself
3 hours -
The appreciation of the Ghana cedi: Strategic marketing responses to price reduction pressures
3 hours -
TechForward Policy Fellowship: Dr. Folashade Soule unpacks Africa’s path to digital sovereignty
3 hours -
Sedem Segbedzi-Semekor crowned ‘Face of Lisben 2025’
3 hours -
YEA donates bags of maize to some SHSs in Bono Region
3 hours