Is Akufo Addo 'Alive' ?

-Adenta MP is Asking

Where is he…? Was a metaphorical question posed by Hon. Kojo Adu Asare, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (NDC) for the Adenta Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2012 Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo Addo last Thursday on Metro Tv.

“…where is he? Nobody has heard him (speak) since this incident (Kennedy Agyapong saga) happened. Is he happy with what is happening or is he not happy with what is happening? He should speak around this time because Ghanaians are watching him. This is where leadership should be called into action…,” Hon Adu Asare opined.

The Adenta MP is questioning why till date the presidential candidate of the NPP for the December elections, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, also a self-acclaimed human rights activist has not spoken on the highly incendiary, ethnic and divisive statements made by the Assin North MP, Hon Kennedy Agyapong, adding that this is the time for him (Nana Addo) to show that he is ready to lead the country.

Hon. Adu-Asare made these remarks as a panelist on Metro TV’s ‘Good Morning Ghana’ show last Thursday moments before the bail request by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong’s lawyers was granted, first by a Human Rights High Court and later, by an Accra Fast Track High Court.

And on Joy FM and Multi TV's news analysis programme, Newsfile last Saturday, Hon Kojo Adu-Asare again challenged the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo to make his stance known on the alleged treasonous statement by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong.

He said Akufo-Addo’s infamous “All-die-be-die” statement opened the floodgates for other members of the NPP to embark on all manner of unacceptable political behaviors.

“In all of this, where is the flagbearer of the NPP? What is his stance on this issue, because he opened the floodgates with his “all-die-be-die” mantra? Subsequently we are seeing attempts by various members of his party moving towards this line. This is an epitome of the “all-die-be-die” mantra” Adu-Asare stated.

The Assin North NPP Member of Parliament was last Monday 16th of April arrested and charged with three counts of treason, felony and genocide for allegedly inciting Ashantis against Gas and Ewes and declaring war against the state of Ghana.

Mr. Agyapong spent three days in the cells of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and was granted bail with two sureties by an Accra Human Rights Court Thursday, April 19th on health grounds, but the substantive charges preferred against him still stand.

His blood pressure level was thought to be higher than normal following his three-day imprisonment; moreover he is a Member of Parliament who is not likely to abscond, said the judge in taking the decision to grant him bail.

Hon Kennedy Agyapong was however re-arrested with fresh and additional charge of terrorism by the prosecution and brought back to an Accra Fast Track High Court which granted him bail the second time in the sum of GHS200, 000 and to re-appear on the 24th April 2012. Hon. Kojo Adu Asare had earlier expressed his disappointment at remarks made by former President John Agyekum Kufuor on the Kennedy Agyapong saga.

The former president who is attending a meeting in Washington DC, USA in a press release issued on Thursday, April 19th, noted that the treason charge leveled against the NPP legislator is like “using a sledge hammer to kill a fly”.

“Treason is the highest criminal offense of the land and must be used lightly. It is like using a sledge hammer to kill a fly and pouring oil into fire,” and called on the Mills’ government to douse the rising tension in the country. But Hon. Adu-Asare said he felt Mr Kufuor, being an elder statesman, would have joined in the open condemnation of the Assin North MP's statement, just like the rest of civil society did.

“…he (former President Kufuor) goofed. Speaking for the first time on the issue, I was thinking that ex-president Kufuor would have condemned the act as other well-meaning people in this country have done. First and foremost as a statesman, I think it’s a mark of insensitivity to the situation or he has been ill-briefed, for that matter he is toeing a total partisan line which I thought was uncharacteristic of him...,” Hon. Adu-Asare said.

However, the presidential candidate of the NPP for the December elections, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, noted for on-the-spur-of- the-moment reaction to issues on the Mills’ administration has been silent on this matter and is thought to be outside the country.

With additional files from: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Myjoyonline.com | Richard Nii Abbey