A Short Message to President Agyekum Kuffour

Greetings Wofa-Per-Diem!

Ooops, I didn’t mean to let out your “Adaka mu din” (secret name) on a public forum; I just couldn’t help taking a swipe at a leader who just spent $20 million of public money in addition to sizable private contributions on the celebration of Ghana’s 50th anniversary of independence.

Currently, we are aware of a list of vehicles we ordered for the one day event are 50 Mercedes Benz, 50 BMWs, 50 Chryslers, 50 Peugeot saloon cars, 30 Jaguars and 25 buses just to convey visitors to and from various destinations. As we continue to consume wastefully, our hospitals have become death beds; roads turned into death traps; inner cities filled with filth; street children roaming with no vision selling PKs; armed robberies on the rise; and some high-ranking public officials (i.e. Edumadze) being accused of chopping waa-waa-waa.

In any case, congratulations! You presented yourself and Ghana well during the 50th independence anniversary. The event sparked a sense of national pride in most people and made us appreciate the magnificent work of the freedom fighters, especially the Big Six and particularly Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Africa’s man of the century.

Wofa Akwasi, before I get to the main reason of this memo, I would like you to know that most people including myself were disappointed that you chose to drape yourself in a three-piece-suit, which is designed for temperate climates, instead of wearing a tropical garment like Batakari. (Even a hand-me-down Kaba from Auntie Theresa would have done it for some of us :-)))

Some of your advisers may already know it; advertisement with a popular figure is sensational. I have learned over the years especially from the Americans why Corporations pay top dollars to have movie stars advertise products. Thus, you (President of Ghana) in Batakari would not only have helped to promote our local products, it would have also impinged on the sensibility of citizens to be proud of ourselves. Additionally, it would have communicated visually to others that though we are a HIPC country, we are a noble and proud people.

Oga peteeeee (Nigerian salutation) there is a common adage in the Akan language which says, “ser wo tan Okwaduo a, na w’ayi ne mirika”. (Buga-buga translation: One may not like a Chimpanzee, but the humor in its style of walking cannot be dismissed). Yes, I am up to something big, hence the adage (smile).

Nene JAK, let me start by clearing my throat (hummm-hooo-hiiiiiimmm)! Most people who would be reading this memo at the Cyber Bar know that I am not a big fan of your politics (you are too Euro-centric for my comfort), all the same I respect you as an elected leader of our beloved nation. Your ability to endure “assault” without hitting back is admirable. I recall many times when your former colleague, Mr. Rawlings, aka Odikro Boom-Boom, used to haul insults at your direction; yet you maintained composure and behaved like a statesman is expected to do.

Opeesie, we (the progressive people of Ghana), need you to apply your great skills and continue to ignore Mr. Rawlings’ occasional outbursts, and reach out to him so that both you and him may hold the country together as one people under the red, gold, and green banner with a centered Black Star. What we need most in the region is peace and stability, so that we could channel our energies into the development of our beloved nation.

Mr. President, we understand that you have tried several times in the past to reach out to the former President, but to no avail. In the interest of reconciliation and national unity, please don’t give up on your pursuit to engage Odikro Boom-Boom; he could be difficult to deal with sometimes, but like a typical “Santrofinoma”, Ghana needs him too around the table for national development.

Nyebro Kuffour, I wish you well, and hopefully when you have left office I may get the opportunity to empty an Akotokyiwa of Brukutu or Pito with you, under a Palm tree and take cheap shots at whomever majority of Ghanaians have elected to the highest office of the land.

Sir, I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that it is not an easy task being President of a developing nation like Ghana with so many pocket-lawyers and Konongo Kayas like Kwaku Azar, Twumasi Timpa, Okukuseku, HKP, Asase, Ossei-Akoto, Oheneba OT, Sumanguru Kante, K Komen, Kwaku Romeo, Ama Okro Mouth, Noriega, Obiba, Bikome, Pataku, Sakraman, etc.

I conclude by quoting from the pages of Dr. Nkrumah, our first elected leader and champion of African liberation - “Forward Ever; Backward Never”!

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