Rejoinder: Kwabena Dufuor Is Cause of Chaos in NDC

I am obliged to post this response to rebut a shallow and selfishly expressed view
about Dr Kwabena Dufuor, the current Finance Minister, as published on Ghanaweb on
Friday, 12th November 2010.


One Seth Ofori, a former Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress
(NDC) is having a dig at Dr. Kwabena Dufuor, the current Finance Minister of Ghana.
He says he does not see "why Dr. Kwabena Dufuor should be controlling the purse of
the state, when he was not in the trenches with them during probably the PNDC era
and the early stages of the formation of the NDC party. Seth contends that the party
could boast of equally competent people to handle the position and that the Finance
Minister was no where around when the economic policy of the NDC party was being
drawn, yet he is the one calling the shots today".


I am really disgusted to read such preposterous sweeping comments as issued by his
fellow NDC guru with intent to hurt and endanger the effective execution of the
Minister's duties. My only consolation lies in the fact that the NDC hardliner, Seth
Ofori, said, "the party could boast of equally competent people within the NDC to
handle the Minister's post". If the Minister, being first and foremost a citizen of
Ghana is equally as competent as the purported unknown NDC persons to handle the
ministry, what is the sound logic behind that absurd campaign to relieve him of his
post then? If it had been that the unmentioned persons within the NDC were far
competent and better than Dr. Kwabena Dufuor then Seth Ofori would have been spared
my whipping cane and needless embarrassment. But as it stands I will have no choice
but to point out his mistakes to him which in the end will lay bare his folly for
all to see.


It must be noted that Kwabena Dufuor is a selfless individual of integrity who has
volunteered to serve his nation to the best of his ability. He has always
endeavoured to be of service to his people, his country Ghana, and humanity at
large. His dynamism and honesty which transcend the limit of thoughts and political
divides have made him such a respected and respectable individual within both the
current NDC government and Ghana as a whole. I should think the NDC needs him more
than he needs the NDC if it wasn't for the sake of the betterment of Ghana.


Unfortunately, most of the people instead of applauding him for his good job done
are rather plotting against him as could be deduced from those deplorable statements
by Seth Ofori. We should please think and reason as One people, One Nation, and with
a Common destiny. The interest of the nation should come before that of a party.
Until we realise this, Ghanaians will have a long tortuous journey to make in search
of peace and prosperity. It quite abhors to always seeing NDC guys agitating to be
accorded priority and be well looked after by the government as though Ghana belongs
to only the NDC.


Seth Ofori reasoning like most NDC activists and gurus questions why Kwabena Dufuor,
my Kumawuman compatriot, is allowed by President Atta Mills to control the nation's
purse? He is not making himself clear to me here. Who does he want to be nominated
or appointed to control the purse? For one thing I know about Kwabena, he is such a
judicious person when it comes to spending money. He always wants to account for
every pesewa used, why it was used and how? He will spend Ghana's money on useful
projects beneficial to the majority of the people at each given time. Is he starving
the "kalabule" guys within the party of money they would otherwise have squandered
without offering proper accounting? Many are those that see politics as an arena for
making money. Is Kwabena proving those guys with their eyes and minds fixated on
misappropriating State money wrong by not helping their dreams to come to pass? If
not, why this diatribe by Seth Ofori and his entire
ilk?


It is sad for NDC to have that wrong perception that their interests are to be
catered for at the expense of the entire nation. Whatever it takes, they should
always be heard and granted their wish. The fact that Kwabena Dufuor was not among
those that sat around that long table to draw the NDC's economic policies as
asserted by Seth Ofori does not make him less competent and uncaring. All pointers
prove that he has laid sound economic foundations to enable Ghana stand on her feet.
The Cedi has stabilized. He has initiated policies to make Ghana produce greater
part of the food she consumes. Has he not implemented policies to revive some of the
nation's dilapidated industries?


I will advise my countrymen especially the NDC that Ghana belongs to all but not to
a particular section or grouping of persons. Ghana does not belong to only the
members of the ruling political party and will never be. Politics should not be seen
as a means to acquiring easy money. Seth Ofori, I hope I have made myself clear to
you by this quick response.


Rockson Adofo