It is unfortunate that in a region battling proper representation and astute leadership, death, unsympathetic as it is, could take out with its icy hands, a great son, a selfless individual who throughout his life dedicated himself to unity and human resource development. Henry Ford Kamel, Volta Region will really miss you. You have set a stage for others to follow. Your selfless contribution to a peaceful resolution to the crisis in a multi-ethnic society, like the Hohoe, is a heritage you have bequeathed us with. Your short-term leadership has made the people of the Volta proud. In a country where we were all witnesses to politicians taking over power, then funding the brutal murder of innocent citizens leading to the gruesome murder of the Dagbonwura, Yana Andani, and creating unending conflicts in Dagbon, we dearly reserve you in our hearts for the peace we now have in Hohoe. You lifted the curfew on Hohoe exactly a week to your untimely death as prove to the world that, you have finished your race, a genuine race indeed! May your soul and the souls of all faithful departed rest in perpetual peace and may light perpetual shine on you.
Now that a great son is gone, as a party that Mr. Kamel served with conscientiousness all his life, it behooves the NDC to find a fitting replacement that will compensate for our great lost.
As I stated earlier, the Volta Region compared to our brothers from the North is lack of outspoken and vocal representation in Parliament thereby limiting our stake in the august House. With the likes of Alban Bagbin, Haruna Iddrisu calling the shots in parliament for the North, we in the Volta lack the tenacity at which in the past Doe Adjaho, Dan Abodakpi, Victor Gbeho and the late Squadron Leader Clend Sowu made the plights of the Voltarian heard. Some will say the 2012 elections has brought to Parliament some of our prized assets, Fifi Kwetey and Okudzeto Ablakwa to argue our case out but they must not fall short in knowing also that both Fifi and Ablakwa have their image to redeem as they have been portrayed by the opposition as haughty personalities in the Mills’ government.
Looking ahead, who shall become the saviour? Can we as a party turn to the people of Buem for solution? Can Buem become the Nazareth of our time to beget us the knight in shining armor? Why Buem? The good people of this constituency have the daunting task to elect one of the unsung heroes of the NDC campaign 2012. The ever resolute Kofi Adams, a citizen of the area has all the qualities and the drive to make the voice of a region famous for its fullest support for the NDC heard in parliament.
Kofi Adams although suspended has behaved himself to the admiration of an entire party. Many would have expected him, being the spokesperson for Chairman Rawlings, to count on the powers that be-to behave like my good friend Julius Malema of the ANC (South Africa)-to cause more troubles for the party. But his attitude had been envy to the opposition NPP.
Many partisans who make use of the social media can bear me witness that, Kofi Adams was the NDC’s number one campaigner on social media ahead of Ras Mubarak and Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.
He is outspoken and does that with decorum and the decency that have been missing in our political arena in recent times. One hardly hears a word of slur from his depositions on the various radios and TV stations that play guest to him. He is a proven democrat, very well-informed, forthright, and an objective personality whose character is distinct amongst the lot.
His task that most endeared him to me and many others is his unique role in calming the differences between the Rawlingses and the NDC. Mr. Adams mostly as intermediary performed creditably well to minimize the effect of the Former President’s actions on the party. When caught between his job and the NDC, he made the definitive choice to endorse President Mahama to the chagrin of his boss lady’s NDP. A choice that many self-centered and gluttonous politicians will never make considering that he was suspended by the party for an allegation which evidence still elude us just as the NPP’s vote rigging evidence still elude them leading them to produce, “a factually empty, legally pathetic, poor in arithmetic and poorer in logic” pertition to the Supreme court.

The Volta Youth Network couldn’t have said it any better with their call for Kofi Adams to go unopposed for the vacant seat. I want to entreat Togbe Afede XIV, Togbe Gabusu, Nana Aburam Akpandja IV, Omanhene of Buem, The Gyaasehene of the Buem traditional area and the Chief of Bodada, Nana Osei Abo IV,Osabarima Antwi Agyei V, chief of Okadjakrom, Nana Bekoe Agyiebea III, Queenmother of Buem, all other Volta chiefs and well meaning Voltarians to join the Youth of our great land to make a humble appeal to the NDC leadership to encourage Kofi Adams to fill the void left by Hon. Kamel.
Having served as Deputy General Secretary of a great party like the NDC, and also as spokesperson of one of the eminent Former Presidents of Africa, it is the believe that Kofi Adams is not new to the corridors of power and would resourcefully use his experience and connections to improve on the basic needs of the people of the Buem district and the Volta Region at large. My humble call goes also to good old Kwesi Aboagye, the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, Doe Adjaho, Mr. Ganyaglo, the former Regional Secretary and others to see reason with me in convincing Dr Kwabena Adjei, Asiedu Nketia and the rest of the leadership to nominate our only jewel left, Kofi Adams, for the development interest of Buem and the Volta Region. In doing so, shall our departed Regional Minister be happy in his grave.
May god bless our great party as we continue to make our nation great and strong.
John Appiah
Email:jondyfa@yahoo.com