AKUFO-ADDO SHOCKS VOLTA CHIEFS

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, shocked the chiefs and peopleof the Volta region on Friday when he refused to condemn the genocidal comments made against them by NPP strongman, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong. At a meeting withthe Volta Regional House of Chiefs, the NPP flagbearer meandered his way around, what has been described as, the most murderous statement in Ghana’s history, before finally taking refuge in the statement issued by his party chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, that said that the party does not support intemperate language, without specific reference to thewidely condemned conduct of the Assin North Member of Parliament (MP). The Volta chiefs, who are the embodiment of the region, had expected Nana Akufo-Addo to assuage the region by calling a spade a spade as far as the genocidal war declared against Gas and Ewes by Mr Kennedy Agyapong is concerned. They had expected the two-time NPP flagbearer to unequivocally condemnthe Assin North MP’s despicable conduct and distance his campaign from hisextremely murderous statement. To their shock and dismay, the NPP leader had rather endorsed Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, albeit subtly. He told the Volta chiefs that the case is in court and it would be inappropriate for him to comment on it, adding that the courtshould be allowed to decide the matter.

Nana Akufo-Addo’s stance on the Kennedy Agyapong matter has caused a great deal of disappointment to Volta chiefs and their people, who were shocked that the NPP flagbearer who has turned the Woyome judgement debt matter into a singsong wherever he goes on his campaign train across the world, even though the case is in court, could continue to think so lowly of the intelligence of Voltarians. Nana Akufo-Addo, who claimed he would not condone any ethnic agenda said Volta region is home to persons such as R G Armattoe, Modesto Apaloo, KodzoAyeke, S G Antor, Rev Ametorwobla, KodzoDumoga, S K Ohene, J Y Oseibre, Courage Quashiga and many others. It is also the home of Sam Okudzeto, Timothy Amesimeku, Agnes Okudzeto, OseiNyame, Tommy Ametekpor, and my fellow Legonite, Elizabeth Ohene, who he described as “many eminent people who were leading lights in the various movements and parties that have become today’s New Patriotic Party.” “Of course, there is and must be a healthy competition between political parties to give Ghanaians a choice between a different set of ideas on how we develop our nation. But this should be nothing more, nothing less than a competition of ideas, commitment, competence and solutions. This competition should never endanger the Ghanaian project,” the NPP flagbearer also pontificated. The NPP statement, issued by party chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, which Nana Akufo-Addo alluded to, also indicated that “The NPP makes it absolutely clear that we do not support intemperate statements and actions that can incite and inflame ethnic passions. Ghana is a proud multi-ethnic country and the NPP, a truly national party, is committed to jealously guard and promote this heritage.”

But the conduct of the NPP and its flagbearer do not support these claims. NPP supporters were marshalled by the leadership of the party at the police headquarters and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), and later at the court, where they engaged in riotous behaviour and vandalised properties worth several millions.

A heroic welcome was organised by the leadership of the NPP for Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, where the ‘genocide MP’literally denied his own voice on tape and said his accusations were false attributions to him by his accusers. Many a Ghanaian is convinced that Nana Akufo-Addo on Friday tried to throw dust into the eyes of the Volta chiefs and their people, since he is the personification of the violent behaviour of members of the NPP presently. This is because it was the NPP flagbearer himself, who sowed the seed of violence in his supporters at a secret meeting in Koforidua by declaring ‘Yen Akanfuo…all die be die’, a violent political philosophy which he tied to ethnicity. Several leading members of the NPP have since endorsed the violence-inciting conduct of their flagbearer. The party’s national chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, former national chairman, Peter mac Manu, national organiser, Anthony Carbo and deputy communications director, Samuel Awuku have been instrumental in encouraging NPP supporters to imbibe Nana Akufo-Addo’s violent political philosophy.

Voltarians are thus left in shock as to why Nana Akufo-Addo, who is the epitome of the ethnic agenda of his party against them, is pretending to bein love with the region.