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Opinions of Thursday, 21 December 2006

Columnist: Amankwah, Nana Kofi

Is NPP different from PFP traditions?

Some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) believe that their ideology is much different from the Popular Front Party (PFP) traditional ideology. The truth is time changes but the philosophical motives are the same from their United Party (UP) political tradition mentality. They always believe that their party is the best party to govern the country on socioeconomic policies.

The irony is that if you look at Nana Akuffo Addo, the current foreign minister who is also the funding member of the (NPP) party. He has set up his exploratory committee to run for his party presidential candidate for the 2008 elections. This individual has many questions to answer to Ghanaians especially the PFP members before he decides to run for the NPP nomination. Akuffo Addo should remember that it was the same United Party tradition that helps his father Edward Akuffo Addo become president during the Busia’s administration. History will establish that it was the same (UP’S) party roots that Busia built his party from, it was also the same party roots Victor Owusu built his party from, it was the same party roots Adu Boahen built his party from and it was the same party roots that Kufuor has use to built his current NPP . It has been the same method that they have used to build strong unity to keep the UP tradition going. Nothing has changed from the UP’S traditions which many of us remember how our fathers used to fight with bottles and cutlasses to build this party. In the course of building this freedom party against Kwame Nkrumah (CCP) communist party, many of them went to jail and others lost their lives.

The public have the right to know the sudden behavior of any one that wants to become a president for our nation. As a result of this Nana Akuffo Addo should explain to Ghanaians his motives behind bringing Victor Owusu (PFP) down during the 1979 campaign and the presidential elections. As member in the (UP) tradition, there was no reason for Akuffo Addo and his uncle to be divisive against a party that had made his father a president at the time they were trying to come back to power after theBusia ouster.

Akuffo Addo and his Uncle William Ofori Attah went and formed the United National Convention (UNC) party, knowing that this would ruin Victor Owusu chances to become a president. I suddenly, remembered when my father who was the campaign manager for the PFP at Kwabre number two Mr. kwaku Ogyem, the former MP for kwabre Mr. Asante Fripong and some of their party executives members tried to talk to Akuffo Addo and his Uncle to united the party but they refused on many occasions. Now Akuffo Addo wanted to become a president in the same tradition he helped to bring it down in 1979. What makes Akuffo Addo thinks that the late Victor Owusu does not deserve to be a president, but now he deserves to become the president in Ghana? I want Akuffo Addo to remember that the draconian measures he and his uncle took to bring Victor’s party down. At that time many of us who witnessed these acts haven’t forgotten. Akuffo Addo must also justify his actions to the UP tradition members who stood toe to toe with PNDC’S autocratic regime when many of them were arrested by Jerry Rawlings. He was socializing with Kojo Tsikata the man behind all the murder’s and intimidation of Ghanaians. Akuffo Addo should remember that as politicians, you should always be careful about decisions you made that may come back to thump your chances. Akufo Addo should come out of his political closet and explain his sudden behavior against the PFP to all NPP members. I urge Akuffo Addo to seek advice and counsel of some of the smartest people in politics on how to resolve this issue over table talk. If not, some of his rising presidential rivals will soak up the national spotlight.

I wish you all merry Christmas and a happy new year

From Nana Kofi Amankwah (New York)

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.