Opinion: Is a vote for Akufo-Addo a vote for Deceit?

Audio By Carbonatix

Fellow citizens of our beloved country Ghana, as we gradually approach the "GRAND FINALE" of the December 28th run-off to elect our third president of the Fourth Republic, we have listened to so many messages from the two candidates, Akuffo-Addo and Prof Mills. We should therefore objectively make up our minds in order to vote for a candidate who will sincerely serve us and not just for a person who wants to become the president for the mere fact that "he deserves to be the president" in order to fulfill his long awaited dream. Nowadays, I find it very difficult to understand some of the messages and actions of Akuffo-Addo and the NPP supporters, especially after the 7th Dec election. I'm therefore tempted to believe that all these "moves" are just being done for DECEIT in order to get our votes. Immediately after the first-round results were released, Akuffo-Addo organized a press conference and informed Ghanaians that he's best suited for the presidency, as such, we should give him the mandate on Dec 28th in the run-off. Among the reasons he sighted for being the best person for the post was that since the NDC has the majority in parliament, we have to vote for him and the NPP to ensure effective checks and balances on the Executive. Also, as the Foreign Minister, that he was able to deal with so many complex international issues. He therefore managing a hung parliament as a president would not be any problem for him at all. Further, he said he's a human right activist and thus best placed to be the president in order to champion human rights activism in Ghana. Quite recently, the out-going NPP MP for Cape Coast was reported to have bent down on her knees and begged fishermen in the C/R to forgive them and vote for them in the run-off. The next day after that report, Obetsebi Lamptey, the Campaign Manager of Akuffo-Addo said they were never begging for votes. Just today that I'm writing this article, Akuffo-Addo is reported on myjoyonline to have defended the "Begging Campaign for Votes". Who therefore is telling us the truth? Is it a DECEIT to get our votes after which they'll then turn their backs on us? When did Akuffo-Addo and his cronies realize the best way for governing the country is to have the Executive and Legislature from different political parties? Why didn't they campaign for that before the Dec 7th election but rather afterwards when they have lost hold of the Legislature? Can that be a DECEIT to throw dust into our eyes in order to get our votes? On the hung parliament that Akuffo-Addo says he's best suited to manage because he dealt with complex international problems as the Foreign Minister; I just want to know, which complex international problems did he manage and deal with? As far as I'm concerned, the complex international problem that occurred during his tenure as the Foreign Minister was the murder of many Ghanaians in Gambia which he did nothing about. Is it therefore another DECEIT to bamboozle us for our votes? Let's digest his human rights activism as he wants us to vote for him based on his "perfect human rights record". Akuffo-Addo was the Attorney General and Minister for Justice when Alhaji Issah Molbila, former CPP Northern Regional Chairman was detained at the Tamale Police Station and was subsequently sent to the military barracks and beaten to death in Dec 2004. Till date, not a single soul has been apprehended for that crime. It's exactly four years now, as the AG and minister responsible for justice, what did he do then? Just about four months ago, innocent people were murdered and their properties running into millions of cedis were destroyed at Gushiegu in the Northern Region. As a human rights activist wanting to rule our dear nation, what has he done about it? Were those murdered not "human beings" and don't they deserve justice? "The NPP presidential hopeful Nana Akufo-Addo has defended recent strings of apologies by high profile members of his party ahead of the presidential run-off on December 28. According to him, it is not illegitimate for public officials to seek forgiveness for acts that did not go down well with the people who elected them into office". (myjoyonline.com: 18/12/2008). Considering the above statements from Akuffo-Addo, it means that it's very good for us to forgive our past elected public officials for whatever wrongs they might have done against us. This, to me ideally is good for nation building and national cohesion. However, if it should hold true, why wont Akuffo-Addo and the NPP forgive the NDC and the ex-president for excesses that occurred during their tenure after the ex-president on so many occasions apologized to Ghanaians for forgiveness? He and the NPP are never prepared to forgive the P/NDC for their excesses and as such always campaign that a vote for Mills is a vote for Rawlings. How can that be possible and how do they expect discerning persons to reconcile these? If most Ghanaians were not forgivable, especially we the "die-hard" Nkrumaist, I don't think we'll have ever voted for any UP offspring in 2000 and 2004 considering what they (UP) did to Osagyefo and CPP supporters after the 1966 coup. We need solutions to our current problems and not Atta Mills will bring back the dark PNDC past. I can't just fathom this double standard. Is it just another DECEIT to decieve us for our votes? Prof. Atta Mills on countless occasions came out to tell Ghanaians his health status. However, Akuffo-Addo has decided to be mute on his cocaine allegations. Who between the two should Ghanaians therefore believe and entrust their destiny with for the next four years? In conclusion, with these inconsistencies and double standards surrounding the Akuffo-Addo and NPP campaigns, will one err if he/she asks the question: IS A VOTE FOR AKUFFO-ADDO A VOTE FOR DECEITMarcus Chudson

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