So many NPP supporters and sympathisers are displeased with a lack of backbone and voice on the part of too many of their leaders or so-called leaders.

Well before the recent elections in Ghana, even certified Softie President J.E.A. Mills was threatening mayhem if their party were to lose the elections. Of course Mr. Boom Rawlings was also making such threats. To them, they could foretell the impending electoral victory and not even the actual votes could stop them. I guess they must have realised the effectiveness of their propaganda machinery compared to the so-called “positive campaign” of the NPP and therefore the inevitability of their victory to come.

As examples, if they weren’t accusing President Kufuor of stashing away $5 billion, they were busy accusing the President of spending millions of dollars to furnish his home or accusing the NPP Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo of being a cocaine user. All of these things were done without any evidence provided. And, in some cases such as the charge of lavish furnishing of the President’s home, the accusations were actually disproved by the evidence. The reward for the liar who made the accusation? A ministerial position.

Yet, what did many of the NPP leaders do? They were out preaching the need for “positive campaign”. Any elementary political observer knows that “negative campaign” works. Also, as the saying goes “silence is acquiescence”. If someone accuses you of something and you do not refute the allegation vigorously and especially if the person repeats the accusation often enough, many will believe the accusation.

So, President Kufuor should have threatened the normally feeble J.E.A. Mills, Mr. Rawlings and other NDC hawks back publicly and forcefully that they risk a time in the courts if they do not stop making such subversive threats of causing mayhem in the country. He then should have followed through with the threat if they continued with such subversive utterances.

Nana Akufo-Addo should meanwhile have also defended himself against accusations of cocaine use. Nana should have gone to court against those making those accusations and seek damages and an injunction. He also should have led the NPP to do some “negative politics” of its own against the NPP. People say that they hate such politics but history has shown over and over again that it is effective. At a minimum, you need such politics in order not to allow your opponents to redefine themselves more positively.

For instance, it is inexcusable to let Professor Mills to define himself as “Asomdwie hene” when he was clearly a big part of the P/NDC, rising to Vice Presidency, at least someone who looked the other way when Rawlings was abusing human rights in Ghana for a generation. He was never known to have fought or even counsel against such practices. He has never also apologised for any of his party’s myriad of mistreatments and even murder of their opponents and countless other Ghanaians. And, as the evidence clearly shows, “Buy Atta Mills, get Rawlings for free” as pushed by President Kufuor’s campaigns was “negative” but true and effective. Rawlings “owns” the NDC and will never let go of his baby. Now, many credible theories about possible coups against or assassinations of both the current President and VP by Mr. Rawlings and his PNDC security team that surround the current administration if they do not do his devious billing, abound.

Now we see Mr. Rawlings going around the country and goading or perhaps instructing President Mills to persecute NPP people. Even VP John Mahama, who seems so cool-headed may not be quite so except when he is compared to Mr. Rawlings. As reported by the GNA and on Ghanaweb recently, here is what the VP said while campaigning in Jirapa in the parliamentary by-election there: “he assured Ghanaians that government would move as fast as possible and would not indulge in witch hunting but warned that if there were witches in the system they must behave appropriately not to be hunted.” As the statement implies, the way a NPP leader will avoid prosecution or persecution is to keep quiet and lie low. That is pretty threatening from the so-called cool-headed guy among the trio of NDC’s three most prominent guys.

Also, look at how President Mills has let loose his castle mafia on even President Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo, the two most prominent NPP leaders. This is in spite of the fact that President Mills was treated with velvet gloves while he was in opposition and was even allowed to make subversive threats of mayhem if the NDC loses elections, with impunity. If I was Nana, I will take the government to court to pay for both cars they have unlawfully seized from him now and beforehand and seek full cash repayment for both since those cars could be tampered with and so he should not use them again.

NPP Leaders, get some backbone! Your supporters are tired of the other side running roughshod over us. Come on! When we have power again, just treat the NDC just as they treat us, no less, no more. Perhaps this is the only way they will start comporting themselves when they have power. They will know we will not treat them so gentlemanly, if they mistreat us. The NDC probably behave as they do because they see us as soft. Let’s change this perception for them, as soon as we get the chance.

Leaders like Dan Botwe are gaining more and more respect because they stand up to the NDC’s bullying. Dan Botwe, as those who know him well attest, is one of the most honest and principled leaders in the NPP. He is also a certified NPP committed person, toiling and building our party’s political machinery when it was least fashionable, as the first General Secretary. I pray that this guy will get the opportunity to lead our party sooner or later. He impresses me with his focus and strength.

Perhaps some of our leaders are quiet because they are scared of being prosecuted for corruption or otherwise persecuted. But, why should the NPP support any leader who cannot stand up for their people in times when they are being harassed and mistreated? So, Nana Akufo-Addo, you were on the front-lines even in the darkest days of the PNDC era. Nana, do not listen to any consultants who try to stilt your voice. Do not listen to these accusations of arrogance leveled against you and cow yourself. Even ultra-arrogant J.J. Rawlings has been President. You just need to be true to yourself. Fight the vindictive NDC party and politics. Remember, God ordains a king. If God has so determined that you shall be President, you will. However, you should never change your style. Polish it, yes but do not change it. Many of us loved you for your courage especially in the PNDC days. And, many of us were also disappointed when you did not fight the NDC hard enough in the last elections. Nana, these folks are ruthless. Fight them, like you did in the 80s!

NPP leaders need to be fearless and principled. We must never allow ourselves to be manhandled again. Do you know how many people told me they are glad the NDC won because had they not won there could have been war in Ghana? I also remember so many people telling me that Rawlings had to win in the 90s or he would not hand over and war/violence may break out otherwise. This is pure nonsense and a reflection of how soft the people view our tradition. We should never feel like the NDC has some divine right to ever rule or they will cause trouble. In fact, based on their economic management and human rights record, they deserve to be far away from power and not wielding it.

It is about time that the Danquah/Busia/Dombo/Adu Boahen/Kufuor tradition gets some backbone. Our supporters are yearning for this. Our leaders, from Dr. Danquah through Prof. Busia, Victor Owusu, Paa Willie, Prof. Adu Boahen, JAK and Nana Akufo-Addo and countless other known and unsung kindred and supporters have been killed or harassed. Why are we constantly being told we need to chill because the other side may cause trouble? Our tradition is no less deserving of running Ghana. On the contrary, we are more deserving. We have had enough. Enough is enough! We must muscle up.

Source: Prince Ofosu Sefah & Nana Asare, Toronto, Canada.