By Kwame Agbodza

It appears the ink from Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe’s pen is blotting unnecessarily. I don’t pretend to be ‘ an Associate Professor of English, Journalism and Creative Writing ‘ and I am definitely not a member of an NPP pressure group ‘ Danquah Institute (DI)’, however, it is not difficult to see Okoampa-Ahoofe’s twisted logics. In his recent vile propaganda piece published on Ghanaweb dated 09/02/11 and titled ‘Spio-Garbrah lacks commonsense and decency’, Okoampa-Ahoofe sort to exhibit his total lack of historical facts and his lack of commonsense in dealing with issues of life and death on the continent of Africa.

It is futile to attack Dr Spio-Gabrah for stating the facts in support of President Mills’ wise position to use peaceful diplomacy to resolve the unfortunate situation in neighbouring Ivory Coast. Many civilised people support the position of President Mills on this issue. Firstly, I will advice Okoampa-Ahoofe to go back and do a bit of historical research. In the interval, I will remind him of some facts. Ghana has always played leading roles in search and maintenance of peace in Africa. Dr Nkrumah did a lot regarding peace building and later continued by President Rawlings and now President Mills. However, some of the gains were reversed by Dr Busia for selfish reasons.

Ghana played significant roles in the formation of ECOWAS and its efforts to maintain regional peace and stability during the reigns of President Rawlings. ECOWAS has never authorised offensive military actions, they only act in pursuance of peace. Why are Okoampa-Ahoofe and the NPP insisting a blood-letting action on the poor people of Ivory Coast, why do they prefer the use of force instead of diplomacy? Only twisted minds will interpret “Dzi Wo Fie Asem” as neglecting the efforts to help resolve the situation in Ivory Coast peacefully. On the 29/01/11, I saw the British Foreign Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affair on Sky TV news interview in London, commented that ”it is not the job of Britain to determine who rules Egypt”, does that mean that Britain is not interested in helping to resolve the situation in Egypt peacefully?

Africa is currently plagued with poverty partly due to wars and armed conflicts. Many civilised people will strive to avoid opening a new frontline on the continent, but no, that is not the position of Okoampa-Ahoofe and the NPP. There is no agreement anywhere authorising military action in Ivory Coast. President Mills only sort to reinforce the position of all civilised Africans that peaceful solutions are possible and more emphasis should be placed on that instead of the ‘gangster’ position of Okoampa-Ahoofe and his NPP.

Okoampa-Ahoofe and the NPP must understand that, they have no moral authority to comment on efforts to build peace on the continent of Africa. They have never shown any commitment to peace. On the contrary, they have acted in very reckless ways in the past. The UP/NPP went against the world in support of the dehumanising regime of P.W.Botha under the Apartheid era. Dr Busia maintained very ‘cosy’ relationship with P.W. Botha. He opposed military action against Botha and insisted that the only solution must be peaceful and diplomatic. Indeed, there was no war on Botha, but we now have a peaceful South Africa.
The UP/NPP was also bankrupt in their foreign policy to the extent that Dr Busia and his UP/NPP expelled foreigners from Ghana. Our brothers and sisters from Nigeria suffered most under this ‘racist UP/NPP foreign policy’. In retaliation former Nigerian Leader Shehu Shagari expelled Ghanaians from Nigeria. Has Okoampa-Ahoofe/NPP not learnt any lessons yet? I believe there will be peace in Ivory Coast without the deadly prescription from Okoampa-Ahoofe/NPP. I will urge Okoampa-Ahoofe/NPP to give us a break on their foreign policy credentials. We don’t need their violent solution in Ivory Coast.

Long Live Africa
God Bless Us All
Kwame Agbodza