Akufo Addo - A pillar of a statesman

Akufo Addo has distinguished himself over many decades of his professional and political life as a humble statesman.

Statesmen are usually politicians, diplomats or other notable public figures that have had a long and respected career at the national and/or international levels. In many instances the statesmanship of a great person may not be acknowledged for a long while. Ghana has produced a number of personalities in her nationhood who fit this bill perfectly.

Our struggle for political emancipation from the British colonial masters saw many men and women who distinguished themselves. These people also included many “ordinary” Ghanaians whose toils and contributions in the various socio economic fields continue to inspire great personalities to take up leadership position and excel to become statesmen and stateswomen.

The likes of Nii Kwabena Bonne III, a Ga Chief who in January 1948, organized a general boycott of all European imports culminating in a series of riots following the boycott in early February, 1948 contributed significantly to the of attainment our independence, but at the time our King took up these actions, authorities then saw his actions as inimical and hostile.

The three heroes of our independence struggle: Sergeant Adjetey, Private Odartey Lamptey and Corporal Attipoe were great statesmen who lost their lives while challenging the status quo that prevailed. They are all indeed statesmen.

Also the struggle for independence produced many statesmen and stateswomen. Paa Grant, Dr. J.B Danquah, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Obetsebi Lamptey, Edward Akuffo Addo, William Ofori Atta and Ako Adjei are people who sacrificed their personal comforts to ensure that our emancipation from colonialism were achieved.

Addo Danquah Akufo Addo has also demonstrated himself as a real pillar of a statesman and joined the league of great statesmen of contemporary Ghana. His acceptance of the verdict of the Supreme Court in the 2012 election petition made a huge impact in the minds of many Ghanaians and the international community. While rightly disagreeing with the court’s decision and the reasons adduced by the Atuguba led panel of Judges, a man of peace and vision established himself once again at highest level of statesmanship anyone could aspire to.

In the face of the clear injustice delivered by the Supreme Court in the election petition, Akufo Addo’s conduct could have plunged Ghana into obdurate conflicts and violence and set in motion a spiral destruction of the country. As a pillar of statesman his conducts has always been to put his country’s interest first. This is exactly what he did. Even before the dust on the verdict could settle, this humble man of peace and vision personally called President John Mahama to congratulate him.

Akufo Addo is a very confident and peaceful man and as stated by Jiddu Krishnamurti

“A man who is not afraid is not aggressive, a man who has no sense of fear of any kind is really a free, a peaceful man”.

A man of impeccable integrity, Akufo Addo is not afraid to sacrifice his personal glorification in order to ensure that his party remains united and his nation peaceful. He has done this on a countless number of occasions.

Humility is not the same as timidity and the confidence exhibited by this humble man has sometimes been misconstrued. His political adversaries have tried in vain to cast a slur on his character but again and again Akufo Addo shows how real statesmen conduct themselves when it matters most.

A democrat per excellent and a human rights activist his entire life, Akufo Addo might even fit in the shoes of the likes of Mr. Kofi Annan, Former President J.A Kuffour, J.J Rawlings, K.B. Asante, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, Tobge Afede XVI, Emeritus Prof J. H. Kwabena Nketiah, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King jnr (This is not an exhaustive list) and many other great personalities whose toils and vision contribute immensely to the development of their people.

Akufo Addo’s life has been a struggle to reform and improve the governance of Ghana. Good leadership is an essential component for sustainable economic growth and political stability. He has always believed that good governance is democracy itself. He accepts that it is not the role of the politician to decide who governs any country but the people themselves through free and fair elections conducted by an impartial electoral commission.

Today, many Ghanaians are calling on Akufo Addo to offer himself to serve the will of all Ghanaians and use his vision and influence to encourage us all to attain our inalienable rights to quality free education, quality health care system, infrastructure development, food security and massive transformation of the socio economic development of Ghanaians irrespective of gender, political leanings, ethnic and/or religious inclination.

Akufo Addo is being urged to once again offer himself to the delegates of the New Patriotic Party to be elected as the flagbearer and become the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2016 general elections.

In the hands of the Almighty and the magnanimity of Ghanaians should he be elected in 2016 as the president, the governance of this country would see massive positive transformation and Ghana would be positioned in the right place among the League of Nations.

Corruption which has become an albatross in Ghana would cease to be a profitable venture. The resources of the state would be used for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

It is with respect, decorum and circumspection that a man of peace and vision, Akufo Addo is being inundated with calls to offer himself for the flagbearership position of the opposition New Patriotic Party once again.

We wait with bated breath to hear Akufo Addo’s official declaration to contest the 2016 elections on the ticket of the NPP with the greatest of respect and humility.

Let’s give Akufo Addo a chance again.

By:

KWAKU AMANKWAH-SARFO

Email: fredy.amankwah@gmail.com

Tel: 0244255525 / 0544331324