Nyaho-Tamakloe Lauds JAK's Attack On Rawlings

A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Tamakloe, has stated that there is nothing wrong with President John Agyekum Kufour (JAK) going to town on his political opponent as long as he did that as Kufour the politician and not Kufour the head of state and father of the nation.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe was reacting to the Kufour Sekondi speech last weekend which had attracted a lot of flak from political commentators.

In a telephone interview, Nyaho-Tamakloe, CEO of the Clinic, Accra, told the Chronicle when asked for his views: “There is nothing wrong with the Sekondi statement. Such talk is allowed on political platforms all over the world. I have seen in Britain, for example, one political leader taunting his opponent for pumping down his throat fabulous quantities of beer.

Kufour was speaking as a politician on a political platform before his teeming supporters. In those circumstances, one should expect words that would send the crowd cheering. It is quite a different thing if he were addressing the nation as president and father of the nation.”

The leading member also added that he personally did not feel there was any need for an apology or retraction of that statement since he was acting as a politician at a political rally.” Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe also stated that even if there was the need for an apology, it would have been more appropriate if that had been made at another massively attended political rally.” He would, however, advise that if ever there was the need for such strong language, his JAK’s handlers would do well to leave that duty in the hands of the senior firebrand members in the party.

“I know President Kufour to be cool and calm but a strong character who chooses his words carefully, and that is why some of us feel he should have left that duty to the senior firebrands members of the party.”

Commenting on the contribution made by Kwabena Agyepong on Metro TV on Wednesday morning on its Good Morning Ghana show hosted by Randy Abbey, the leading member remarked that there was not need for it, especially when the President himself had gone out of his way to do some form of retraction during his interaction with the people as Head of State.

“It was unnecessary, even for the President to have apologised, in my view, shows his regard for the feelings of other people and his sense of magnanimity. If I as Nyaho intended going to town on the NDC at a political rally of that sort, it would have been more explosive.”

Dropping a hint on his dramatic return to active politics, Dr Tamakloe warned the NDC. “To me, the campaign for the year 2004 starts now. We have walloped Rawlings and Mills before; we shall wallop them again in 2004. That doesn’t mean we should be complacent as a party. We have to be up and doing whether at ward, grassroots, and constituency, regional or national level. Nothing should be taken for granted at all”, he said.

Last weekend, Mr J.A. Kufour, at an NPP national rally, descended on the NDC and former President Jerry John Rawlings and his men, referring to them as reluctant democrats who were dragged, kicking and screaming by powerful influences, both local and foreign, to accept the concept of constitutional rule.