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Opinions of Friday, 4 May 2007

Columnist: Amankwah, Nana Kofi

The Inside Edition of NPP Aspirants III

It is cynical for Alan Kyerematen the Minister of Trade, Industry, and the vice president Aliu Mahama to refuse to answer questions pertaining to their ethical issues. These two presidential nominee candidates believe that by hiding from the media to answer questions will give them the advantage for not reviewing their dubious exposures to NPP delegates who have their party’s mandate to decide their political fate in December, 2007 NPP delegate conference.

Whenever politicians refuse to answer question on ethics issue, it creates doubt in the minds of many people that they have something to hide. It is as clear as the daylight.

If these individuals have nothing to hide why can’t they come out and answer these questions for the past three months. These questions should be answered as strictly and prudent for Ghanaians to know how honest they are. These aspirants did not realize that it is unjust and frankly hypocritical for Kyerematen and Aliu to find themselves guilty of ethical lapses among other aspirants by refusing to answer simple questions. Alan Kyeremating has failed to answer questions on his participation on the IFC loans that were initiated by him while he was Ghana Ambassador in U.S.A. While the former, Finance Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo has answered his part respectively to Ghanaians. Alan Kyerematen believes that Kufuor’s confidence in him to recruit him to be his successor, allows him to be above reproach not to answer questions to the common people in Ghana.

The character of these individuals signifies that if they get elected they will never give any audacity or hope to the common people in Ghana. In addition, Ghanaians are not looking for any criminals to become their servants. Some people form Aliu Mahama’s camp are trying to defend him through ethnic lines, while he refuse to answer simple questions about business transaction that he was involve in including some Nigerian government officials and US House of Representative Member. He has refused to explain his side to the Ghanaian media.

I am now urging all the NPP members and delegates to take a closer look at Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister of Water Resources and the Member of Parliament for New Juaben North in the Eastern Region candidacy very seriously. As a spokes person for the common people, Hackman has better qualifications to handle the duties of the country more than many of the NPP candidates who are trying to buy their way to become the presidential nominee. I am not endorsing anybody, but the core NPP delegates should examine Owusu Agyeman careful for that position. The NPP needs somebody like Attah Mills, a man who is not arrogant but humble. Many Ghanaians do not know that Mills was a strong member form the U.P. tradition before joining the N.D.C.

The essence of bureaucracy in politics means wait until it reaches your turn. Many NPP aspirants like Arthur Kobina Kennedy know very well that they have to wait on line until it reaches their turn. These individuals do not realize that in politics once you become a failure people do not take failing candidates seriously. My advise to all the candidates who have the potential to represent the next generation as their servant, need to take themselves out of this race, and look for some ministerial positions and perform well that will help their cause for the next presidential race. Recently, Dan Botwe visited Volta Region during his introduction he said, “It is me, your own Dan in 1992, 1996, and 200. I am the same good old time servant now ready to serve you better. This is how every politician or a civil servant must see themselves as servants not masters. This individual is very humble; the delegates need to look at him very seriously for the party’s progress, for the simple fact that he sees himself as a person who comes from obscure poverty and willing to remain as a servant. Akufo Addo could not answer to the allegation made against him from his constituency which means this individual is not credible for the position he is looking for. The point is, Aliu and Kyeremating should not confuse themselves as emperors who believe that they need not listen. This will be unacceptable to Ghanaians period. These individuals will not be going out scott free until they answer these simple questions if they wish to become the servant of our dear country.

From: Nana Kofi Amankwah (New York)

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