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Nana Akufo-Addo Is A Corrupt Individual! Part One

Nana Akufo-Addo Is A Corrupt Individual! Part One

By Nana Akyea Mensah, The OdikroThose of us who are worried about the slippery slope into political violence simply because a certain individual wants to be President "at all costs" must begin to raise our voices before it is too late! These series of articles must be seen as my personal contribution to help make sure that sanity prevails in our country before we descend into civil strife and possibly war. It is a humble call on all peace-loving Ghanaians to stand up and be counted!

I am particularly writing in response to the bullying tactics and campaign of insults that are fast becoming the hallmark of the Akufo-Addo campaign and to call the bluff of Mr. Mustapha Hamid, aide to Mr. Akufo-Addo, over his vituperative and intemperate attack on Dr. Arthur Kennedy's call for "a united party that has dealt with corruption and violence and intimidation". See "Arthur K is on a mission to destroy Akufo-Addo – Mustapha Hamid".

Certainly Dr. Arthur Kennedy must know a thing or two about corruption within the NPP in which Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been involved. The fact that he is not pointing them out directly does not mean there is nothing to worry about! I have every intention to address the issue squarely, even if takes a series of ten parts. This is only the beginning.

Dr. Kennedy still remains a party faithful and is not expected to wash the dirty clothes of the NPP in public. But at this stage, his silence on what he knows might be a disservice to God and country. I shall have the time to deal this this aspect in a later series. For now, suffice it to say that I have read carefully his statement calling for sanity to prevail in the party. The spirit of intolerance currently reigning in the NPP will not only ensure its defeat in the 2016 elections, but might also plunge our country into political chaos.

First of all, I wish to thank in advance, all those party sycophants who are quite predictably going to jump at me and insult and annoy me because they will only help to give me fuel to produce the second part of this article with maximum alacrity. The knee-jerk response to the slightest criticism of Nana Akufo-Addo with insults and unwarranted attacks and intimidation is exactly what I am complaining about. And it must be clear to all that Nana Akyea Mensah will not be intimidated!

The systematic attempts by Akufo-Addo's aides to insult and intimidate his opponents and critics is certainly not the best way to defend our democracy. I find it most unfortunate that in all these, Nana Akufo-Addo himself has remained silent, instead of calling his aides to order. Our democracy must not give way to school-yard bullies! It is absolutely important for our democracy to make sure that political candidates endeavour to win elections by the force of their arguments and not by the argument of force.

Apart from the insults, the only Presidential candidate whose body guards have been known to beat up opponents is none other than Nana Akufo-Addo! We all know his personal body guards were seen beating up those of the late President Atta-Mills' at the Oguaa Fetu Afahye in 2008. They were seen beating up former President Rawlings cameraman in a hotel lobby in Kumasi, with Akufo-Addo looking on approvingly! The unfortunate trend still continues to this day. Is it too much to ask that this must stop?

It is a shame that the only occasion where Nana Addo has been on record to condemn these senseless attacks was when they beat up Mr. Alan Kyeremanteng's supporters at the NPP headquarters. They went ahead to beat up President Mills' body guards again at the Manhyia Palace during the 2008 Odwira Festival, under the pretext that a body guard was carrying a gun. What kind of logic is that? Were they expecting body guards to carry bananas?

There is no doubt in my mind that had Dr. Kennedy said what he was saying in the presence of Akufo-Addo's body guards, he would have been severely beaten, and Nana Akufo-Addo would have most probably approved of it! In the lead-up to the 2012 elections, Mr. Asamoah-Boateng had to run for dear life when he attempted to pay a courtesy call at Nana Addo's "Victroy 2012" headquarters. They charged at him on sight, screaming, "Agenda 2016"! "Agenda 2016"! "Agenda 2016"!

Even the current chairperson of the NPP, Mr Paul Afoko, has already received this "baptism of fire" from Nana Akufo-Addo's henchmen, as they generously doled out a fair share of their severe beatings for daring to challenge their boss! A party that cannot tolerate any form of criticism is a political dictatorship and not a political party! What was so wrong with the wise counsel of Dr. Kennedy? If indeed the NPP really means to win an election in Ghana, then they need to heed this call: "The truth is that" Dr. Kennedy writes, "the NPP brand has been tarnished by divisions and violence and intemperate talk since 2008. To win, If he becomes the nominee, he needs a united party that has dealt with corruption and violence and intimidation behind him. To get there, he has huge mountains to climb."

We know very well about Mr. Akufo-Addo's reputation for violence and intimidation, so the least said about this "all die be die" individual, the shorter this article would be. I do not intend to labour the point. However, the spin Mr. Hamid is trying to put on Akufo-Addo as being incorruptible cannot pass without comment. He ought to have let sleeping dogs lie! I have decided to focus on this aspect in these series of articles. Hence the title.

Mr. Mustapha Hamid was quoted as saying, “We are all human beings and may have our deficiencies but Nana Addo’s deficiencies do not include corruption, they do not include violence and they do not include exclusion,” Mr. Mustapha Hamid noted in his attack on Dr. Kennedy. He even went further to claim that Nana Akufo Addo is "unblemished when it comes to corruption".

To further buttress his point, he stated:

"As Attorney-General and later minister for Foreign Affairs, Nana Akufo-Addo, never drew one litre of fuel from government coffers, he paid for his own security, never lived in a government bungalow, paid extra from his own pocket in order to sleep in hotels when he went abroad, etcetera; those are public records at the ministries where Nana Addo served as minister".

Really? This is ridiculous! Living in a government bungalow officially designated for ministers does not make a minister corrupt! Sleeping in a hotel on official duties at government expense does not make one corrupt! It seems to me that Mr. Mustapha Hamid does not even know what constitutes corruption! This is a rare piece of nonsense. Is a minister to be considered corrupt simply because he lives in a state bungalow?

For starters, if indeed Mr. Hamid thinks what he is saying is true, then I challenge him to ask his boss to throw more light on what happened at the Hotel Hyatt & Resorts, located on 24M Streets, Nw, Washington, DC 20037, on Wednesday, June 4, 2008. I am putting it to Mr. Akufo-Addo that this is not only a closely guarded secret because it was a criminal fund-raising activity that broke both US and Ghanaian laws, but that he also used the Ghanaian tax payers' money and state resources to finance the entire fund-raising event!

And we are not talking about small money here. The whole event was organized by The Whitaker Group, lobbyists and investment promoters, which later confirmed that indeed the Government of Ghana paid it sums amounting to $1.3 million. The Whitaker Group further explained that "the money was not for lobbying on behalf of the Government only, but includes other works aimed at facilitating trade and investment to create jobs".

This was in reaction to a Ghanaweb publication on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, an article detailing how the Government doled out the sum, explaining that "among other things the money went to service dinners hosted for officials of Government". See: Whitaker Group confirms $1.3 million payment from Government 
 
Incidentally, Dr. Kennedy was present at the luncheon as the Director of Communications of the Akufo-Addo campaign. He laconically admitted that the secret luncheon did indeed take place with a group composed of mainly US multinational corporations:

"The group", Dr. Kennedy said, "was made up of people with substantial investments in Ghana and also of others who have an interest in investing in Ghana. The meeting was therefore to afford Nana Akufo-Addo the opportunity to explain his vision of transforming the Ghanaian economy and creating a modern society. That was just what happened at the meeting". See: Rejoinder to Enquirer Story On Akufo-Addo's Trip | General News 2008-06-08

The dangers associated with big multinational corporations in the USA financing political parties in a poor third-world country like Ghana cannot be under-estimated. This is the most serious form of political corruption available on the planet! The selection of so-called "business-friendly" candidates by these corporations to "help" them win power are translated often in lower labour standards, a blind eye on vital environmental protection measures, and generally sacrificing the common good for special interests, such as the imposition of GM foods on the population without the consent of the people!

As Adam Smith (Scottish philosopher and economist, 1723-1790) once put it, "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public." The question Mr. Hamid must answer is what was Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, who went to the US in search of funding, doing secretly in a room full of multinational corporations, some of whom have been convicted of bribery and corruption in countries as diverse as Germany and Indonesia?

Of course, you and I were not there! And your guess is as good as mine! So if Mustapha Hamid wants to tell us his boss is not corrupt, he must begin by giving us further and better particulars on this event, and stop throwing dust into our eyes on government bungalows!

Stay tuned for the Part Two.
Sincerely,
Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.
OFFICE OF THE ODIKRO
a companion of the black star!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheOdikro

Isn't Sir John Guilty Of Another Contempt?

Feature Article, by Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.

In fact, if the NPP were to properly learn the lessons of their electoral defeat, Ghana's elections will never be the same again. The “campaign” for votes through “trokosi” and “cow herd” insults, as well as the “we Akans” and “all die be die” would all disappear! Elections would be festive, entertaining, and there would be less tension. It is about time that things change for the better. Peace-loving Ghanaians are sick and tired of the fact that each time Ghana is going into elections, one feels as though our nation is preparing for a civil war. That is why it is very important to help them to learn their lessons. One way of doing so ought to be a zero tolerance for the irresponsible utterances from their elected officers. We need, as a people, to make such reckless comments a thing of the past. If we want peace to reign in Ghana, these are the little things we must pay attention to.

I was indeed very surprised to read today, Friday, 30th August, 2013, just a day after the Supreme Court had delivered their verdict dismissing the Akufo-Addo-led petition, the irresponsible utterances are beginning to show their ugly heads, once more. Newspaper reports indicate that the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, "has insinuated that President John Mahama and the vice president may have known the election petition verdict ahead of the pronouncement by the Supreme Court on Thursday." See: Sir John: Why did Mahama wear white on judgment day? | General News 2013-08-30 Source: radioxyzonline.com,

Sir John needs to be reminded that he could be hauled again before the court to give "further and better particulars" regarding the insinuation "that President John Mahama and the vice president may have known the election petition verdict ahead of the pronouncement by the Supreme Court on Thursday," simply because they were both dressed in white clothes before the verdict was announced! Sir John told XYZ Breakfast Show host Moro Awudu on Friday August 30, 2013 that: “He knows best what went into all this. Indeed it amazes me that he and his vice president and all the people around him wore white even in the morning before the verdict came”. Sir John, therefore, wondered if the president and the governing National Democratic Congress were privy to some information about the verdict which the rest of the country did not know.

This is not just nonsensical. This is bad behaviour especially coming from someone who has been made to sign a bond of good behaviour! Since "you and I were not there" when the Justices of the Supreme Court arrived at their judgements, there is a strong inference that the insinuation of Sir John is a direct attack on the integrity of the Justices of the Supreme Court who are the only people supposed to keep custody of their judgement. The best way to maintain the peace and stability of Ghana does not include tolerating bad behaviour from someone who is already under judicial bond to behave himself! The statement is particularly unfortunate, since the only people who could have supposedly divulged such information to the Presidency would have to be the Justices of the Supreme Court! Since such an act would clearly be deemed wrong by any right thinking Ghanaian, is Sir John not by this assertion, directly or indirectly impugning the integrity of the Justices of the Supreme Court?

Is he not frontally attempting to bring the integrity of the Justices of Supreme Court into disrepute? Sir John is no ordinary citizen of the Ghana. Even ordinary voters are supposed to be at least, eighteen years old and of a sound mind! Sir John is not only an elderly person, he is also the General Secretary of the main Opposition party. He is also a lawyer who ought to know better! Of all the troubles our nation is facing, must this be the focus of the General Secretary of the main Opposition party? What is even most surprising about these utterances is that he has just been convicted of contempt and was supposed to have signed a bond of good behaviour or risk a jail sentence of six months! During his contempt hearing, the President of the panel of Judges expressed some uncertainty about the contrite nature of Sir John when he appeared before them. It was a gesture to peace and tranquillity that Sir John was given the benefit of the doubt and a chance to be of good behaviour.

I was not sure myself if such an apparently incorrigible hard-core adult delinquent of that nature could rise to the occasion, but I understood the wisdom of the court decision. After reading Sir John's latest outbursts, I think otherwise. The whip must crack. That seems to be the only language people like this understand. It looks as though Sir John will never change for the better. My greatest fear is that if he gets off the hook, he would quickly revert to his bad old ways. As one commentator put it, "He has said all manner of things including saying that the President had a hand in the accident that the running mate had up north. Indeed his wise running make came out boldly debunking this claim of this demented and schizophrenic wreck." What makes this particularly annoying is the fact that Sir John asked NPP supporters to wear white even before the Electoral Commission had finished tallying the 2012 electoral results!

“For somebody who sought to usurp the power of the Electoral Commissioner by pre-emptively announcing to the supporters of NPP to wear white to church on Sunday even before all the results were for the 2012 election were in”, commented Che on Ghanaweb, “Sir John must be living in a fool's paradise for reading all sorts of imports into the President and his vice wearing white while waiting for the results of the NPP court petition. There is nothing wrong with one having a positive anticipatory result of an awaited pronouncement. In this case the President and his vice were right while sir John's forecast with respect to the 2012 elections were foolishly wrong. Go figure who should be judging the other. Some kind of jealous posture by a misguided mind like that of Sir John.” (Comment: LISTEN TO THE IDIOT, Author: CHE, Date: 2013-08-30 10:03:25, Comment to: Sir John: Why did Mahama wear white on judgment day).

“The Gas wear white to mourn; how about that?” Nana Ansah also wrote as a comment, “Waving a white flag means accepting defeat world wide. So for this illiterate Kokoase champion to make such a fallacious statement is no wonder because he is a Kokoase Krakye.” (Nana Ansah, Date: 2013-08-30 08:59:10, Comment to: WHY DID NPP WEAR BLACK?) Another commentator wrote: “But NPP supporters were also dressed in white waiting at the party headquarters. did they know something we did not also know?” (Comment: Nonsense, Author: Sally, UK, Date: 2013-08-30 08:27:51, Comment to: Why did Mahama wear white on judgment day).

It must be instructive that a Law lecturer at the GIMPA Law School, Ernest Kofi Abotsi says one can still fall into the trap of contempt of court even after the judgement on the election petition has been delivered. He said “the fact that the court’s judgement has ended with the slamming of the gavel does not imply that the jurisdiction of the court” to bring contempt proceedings is ousted. Any person who makes comments on the judgment which the court considers scandalous and injurious to its reputation can be cited for contempt and punished, he said. “When the court speaks and you say things about the court that can be deemed to be scandalizing of the court, or deemed intentional of bringing the administration of justice into disrepute, actually this is the time, in my opinion, when contempt of court may be looming large,” Mr. Abotsi stated. He was a panelist on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show discussing the verdict of the Supreme Court on the election petition. (See: Watch! You can still be in contempt after judgment – Law lecturer | Local News, Myjoyonline.com|Malik Abass Daabu, August 29, 2013, 12:50 GMT)

Perhaps the best and the most prophetic comment on this was: “You wait they will catch him again.” - Author: SIMPLY RUTHLESS, Date: 2013-08-30 09:23:47, Comment to: WHY DID NPP WEAR BLACK?

Comment: “He thinks Atuguba is gone!”

NPP Must Learn To Say “Sorry”!

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Feature Article, by Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.

The NPP cannot eat their cakes and have them at the same time. In raising an issue that they considered fundamental, to which lawyers for the respondents and the court agreed were very important, as they impugn the credibility of the court. After going to town attacking the credibility of the court, they are seeking to leave a potentially explosive matter legally untested and leaving a room for the much talked-about insurgency against the people of Ghana. Even though the NPP does not seem to have the stomach to carry through their objections to the composition of the panel, they are still publicly claiming that they stand by their concerns, and that they “have not changed”.

Some of us thought that the NPP was going to make sure that the right things are done, from the very beginning of this trial to the very end. At least, that was the impression some of us got when the NPP failed presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo announced at a Press Conference, among other things, that:

“We have now put our case before the court, and are also putting the case before you, the people of Ghana. We leave it for the court to judge the merits. But once again, the NPP, through the petitioners in this case, is seeking to deepen our democracy by strengthening the institutions that are mandated by our Constitution to superintend the electoral process: (1) by ensuring that the Electoral Commission is accountable to the people of Ghana, and (2) the Supreme Court is seen by all as the ultimate arbiter of electoral grievances and disputes.” [1]

How can the Supreme Court be “seen by all as the ultimate arbiter of electoral grievances and disputes”, when this same NPP is making serious allegations against its integrity, and at the same time insisting that even though those concerns “have not changed”, they have not got the time to address them, as they are more concerned with the court concentrating on their task of declaring Nana Akufo-Addo as the President of Ghana in an “expeditious” manner? Is it possible to make wild accusations and refuse to substantiate simply because one has not got the time? Even thought the petitioners have expressed the intention not to pursue the objection to the composition of the court, a member of the NPP legal team, Madam Gloria Akuffo maintains publicly that the concerns expressed by the NPP respective to a particular judge “have not changed”. [2]

So, if those concerns “have not changed”, what are those concerns? According to Ms Gloria Akuffo, it was for the purpose of maintaining the sanctity of the judiciary that the NPP requested an in-camera hearing of its objections to the panel of judges hearing the NDC's joinder application. "It is for the purpose of strengthening our democracy that we thought we should adopt the procedure...to be heard in-camera; it is for the stability of this country; it is for the security of this country; it s to maintain the integrity and respect for the judiciary. But if the court - they are the final arbiters - ...think that having disclosed the nature of our objection we should still bring it formally we will respect the court's decision,” she said. [3]

Is it not simply amazing that the NPP insists that their concerns which involve serious issues such as “the security of this country”, “maintaining the sanctity of the Judiciary”, “strengthening our democracy”, “to maintain the integrity and respect for the judiciary.”, no longer matter? And that what matters is simply “an expeditious determination of the petition” in order to make Mr. Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, as quickly as possible? Is the NPP trying to tell Ghanaians and the rest of the world that our Judiciary has nothing else to address, even where its own integrity is at stake, other than declaring Nana Akufo-Addo as the President of Ghana? Apparently, the President-at-all-costs, Nana Akufo-Addo can close his eyes to any principle of fairness, and moral scruple, rule of law, any arithmetic, any judge, any democratically elected President, who seems to stand in the way!

What the NPP is telling us is that they care less about their much vaunted “the security of the state”, “the stability of this country”, “the sanctity of the Judiciary”, etc., so far as Nana Akufo-Addo is declared President by the Supreme Court! Otherwise, they would have taken the time to address those issues, especially as they claim publicly that those concerns have not changed. I fully agree with the views of Mr Kofi Abotsi, who observed on Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile Saturday, that the practice of raising objection to a panel member is a regular exercise in the law courts. And that the main problem however is that the party could have exercised some sober reflection on the matter, before raising an objection:

“What might have changed?” he questioned: “Because you have created a scenario that has been discussed and suddenly there has been a withdrawal, assuming the relationship involved that is being discussed, the relationship hasn’t changed; assuming that there are some serious evidences that have been gotten in respect of that judge, which fundamentally prejudices him as a judge sitting in respect of this matter, has that fundamental scenario changed? I think if the status quo remains then it means that there are even more questions why in the light of status quo you would want to proceed while you feel very uncomfortable with that Judge, and what the effect might be if that judge rise to judgement you find fundamentally problematic in the light of facts that have not been disposed? So clearly there are serious perceptual issues that might have been created, and I think that is what may affect the issue of withdrawal.” [4]

I find it very alarming that the NPP claims it insists on their objections raised, even though they have no wish to contest the case, no matter how important this might be. Is this case going to proceed with the NPP hinting at unsubstantiated objections to the composition of the court, even though their concerns “have not changed”? It makes me wonder how a case that was specifically adjourned with a court order to file a motion, issued after the lawyers for the New Patriotic Party protested the composition of the court, can now go ahead on the grounds of “an expeditious determination of the petition”, despite the seriousness of their objections, most especially considering fact that they claim to be still standing by those concerns?

They argued that the composition of the court, presided over by Justice Atuguba, is skewed against them. Nothing has changed. They still insist they are right to impugn the credibility and integrity of the Supreme Court. There are nine Supreme Court judges sitting on the case. NPP was expected to file a motion to state their case. After storming out of court screaming furiously that they were going to work on their motion, all that came out was a letter declaring an intent “not to pursue the matter”. What does that mean? This is even worse than a simple inability to substantiate a case of defamation. Is the NPP trying to tell the court, they are incapable of executing their order to file a petition, even though they still believe that the composition of the court, presided over by Justice Atuguba, is skewed against them?

Is it a way of saying, “My Lords, you are biased, we insist on that, but carry on judging because we are in a hurry, and we have no time to substantiate our wild allegations!”? Where did they acquire their sense of decency and this type of arrogance? It is very alarming that instead of pursuing their motion in court, the NPP has resorted to media propaganda aimed at undermining the credibility of the Panel of Judges, especially Justice William Atuguba. Only today, Tuesday, 15 January 2013, a group calling itself Militant Patriots of Ghana (MPs) issued a statement which stated among others:

“We, of the Militant Patriots of Ghana (MPs) have been watching with unease the recent turn of events at the Supreme Court where a judge, Justice William Atuguba made comments which can only be described as highly reckless and prejudicial. By these comments, the said judge has left himself no other alternative than to recuse himself from the case involving Nana Akufo-Addo and others v John Mahama and EC. We are confident that, with the benefit of hindsight, Justice William Atuguba himself will have come to the conclusion that his extra-ordinary outburst was ill-conceived, misleading and a serious error of judgement. In that vein he therefore cannot continue to serve as a judge on this matter. If he has any iota of conscience left, then he should recuse himself. The statement that “this country is solid but is breaking down because principles are being chopped down… This is not good” is in bad taste. Such definitive, conclusive and judgmental statements are normally reserved for end of trials and not at the beginning of trials. How can Justice Atuguba serve as a judge in the light of such definitive statements? We find this as a rather highly extra-ordinary turn of events.” [5]

These are not light accusations to be made at the highest court in the land, and to recklessly raise them in court, and claim a lot of interest in its pursuit, whilst insisting on it is the most perfidious thing any plaintiff can do to the stability, and peace of this country, as well as to our Supreme Court. It is not like the sharing of state lands among NPP functionaries and leading members, where one can withdraw without any repercussions. The arguments they advanced cited grave issues and concerns which, according to them, have not even changed, yet they want to brush these fundamental issues aside, and proceed with a judgement! Is it a way of engineering a window of escape into mayhem, death and destruction, should the judgement go against the NPP? They must be made to formerly withdraw and apologize for the attempt to smear the court, or ordered to proceed with that motion!

Withdrawing the allegations and rendering unqualified apologies is something the NPP ought to have done on its own without even being told to do so by others. The reason is simple. It even has a name. It is called “good manners”. You can not accuse someone of murder and then turn around to arrogantly say you have no time to present the evidence when ordered by a competent court to do so! What makes this even worse is that far from an apology, they still insist their concerns have not changed, so they are even unable to render sincere apologies! As Nana Ato Dadzie recently pointed out, an apology is required, most especially after the General Secretary of the NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, had threatened to expose the judge they objected to, which the NDC have speculated to be Mr William Atuguba, with ‘more challenging things’. According to him, the “horrendous” statements made by Mr Owusu Afriyie, moment after the objection was raised in court, should as well be condemned.

Nana Ato Dadzie's observation that the procedures used by the NPP to raise the objection and rescinding it were wrong, makes perfect sense. “You will have to ask the registrar, by way of a letter, to have the court sit and then you bring a formal application withdrawing your objection... what happens to the written order? There must be record that the written order itself has been revoked” How does the court revoke the order when the NPP maintains it still stands by those accusations? I hope they receive a good dressing by the Supreme Court for such an unacceptable behaviour, which contributes more as a threat to the sanctity and the integrity of the Judiciary than their perceived concerns!

I just learned that Nana Ato Dadzie, a counsel member of the NDC that is seeking to join the petition, speaking on Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile contended: “You accused a panel of likelihood of bias and you don’t name the person, you put all nine judges in a problematic position…into disrepute”, and so following the order of the court asking the NPP to file a motion, the proper thing to do, if they seek to withdraw their motion, is to go back to the Lords to to render unqualified apologies to judges at the Supreme Court, especially Justice William Atuguba, for embarking on an action that sought to injure the integrity of the panel to hear the NPP’s petition against the 2012 election results.

“If you’ve changed your mind, the proper thing to do is to go before the nine judges and say, Lord we are on our kneels, we apologize… That is the more honourable thing to do... All the nine judges, particularly Justice Atuguba and the people of this country are entitled to an unqualified apology from the legal team that went to make some allegations of impropriety against the judges to frustrate and delay this trial,” he insisted. [6]

I also like the way a commentator on Ghanaweb, General de Gaule put it: “Their concerns have not been addressed so how can they be allowed to rescind their decision? The only legal basis for rescinding their decision is for them to accept that it was unfounded and not because they want an expeditious hearing. Justice cannot be sacrificed at the altar of expediency. They must come up with a formal objection or accept that it was unfounded.” [7]

This is a serious development and must be nipped in the bud before it germinates to cause trouble in the future. The fact that the NPP insists upon even not apologizing for what could probably amount to a contempt makes the call for apologies even more urgent. In sharp contrast to Nana Ato Dadzie's call on the NPP to apologize for the disgraceful performance, Mr. Faibille, stated that looking at the case the NPP has presented before the Supreme Court, it would totally be wrong for them to make a fuss about Mr. Dadzie’s “red herrings”. Lawyer Egbert Faibille proceeded to counsel Nana Ato Dadzie to remain “focused” instead of trying to offer moral tutorials to his political opponents:

“Nana Ato Dadzie must focus on his work for the NDC’s legal team and leave the NPP to prosecute their case. I think that when a case is before court, it is beneficial to focus on it rather than the mere shenanigans. There is no use and if the NPP doesn’t apologize, what can he do,what can Nana Ato Dadzie do?” he inquired." [8]

“More worrying is the concerns by a section of the public that the intended public education by IDEG and GBA would in lieu of enhancing public knowledge on electoral adjudication, be pouring more fire in the already polarised public discussion of the matter which has already been laid before the Supreme Court, and thereby raising fears of prejudicing the court’s proceedings.

Coming at the heels of last Thursday’s drama at the Supreme Court where the NPP had requested an In-camera hearing after questioning the credibility of a panel member only to turn down an order to state the protestation, it is suspected that the intervention by IDEG and GBA is a ploy, calculated to undermine the eventual verdict of the Court and as a way of preparing the minds of the Public to reject the outcome of the court’s decision.

Even before the dust settles on his quick u-turn from citing reasons they opposed the membership of the panel assembled by Her Lord Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood to hear their election petition, the Ghana BAR Association and the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) have offered themselves to be used as their grey-knight. The two groups heavily perceived to be politically aligned to the NPP has announced their intention to embark on a series of public education under the disguise of sensitizing the public on the mandate of the Supreme Court.” [9]

The painful aspect of it all is that, they all claim to be legal luminaries! As to what they are taking Ghanaians for, only God knows! They must be made to feel so dizzy that they will think twice or more, before they present another vexatious petition and begin to abuse the Judiciary the next time around! They must either substantiate or be made to categorically withdraw, apologize to God and country, and to commit themselves to for ever hold their peace!

Forward Ever! Backwards Never!

For Life, the Environment, and Social Justice!

Nana Akyea Mensah, Ghana Steering Committee, P-AI, Social Media Campaigns | January 12, 2013
SocialMedia@panafricanistinternational.org - Pan-Africanist International - a grammar of Pan-Africanism and its manners of articulation! www.panafricanistinternational.org

REFERENCES:

[1] Statement: Nana Akufo-Addo on the filing of the Supreme Court petition, From: Myjoyonline.com, Published On: December 28, 2012, 12:22 GMT | Politics http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201212/99238.php

[2] NPP’s U-turn raises more questions – Kofi Abotsi | Politics http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201301/99801.php

[3] It is for the integrity of judiciary we wanted in-camera hearing - Gloria Akuffo, By Ghana l Myjoyonline.com, General News | 10 January 2013, http://www.modernghana.com/news/439008/1/it-is-for-the-integrity-of-judiciary-we-wanted-in-.html

[4] NPP’s U-turn raises more questions – Kofi Abotsi | Politics http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201301/99801.php

[5] NPP group calls on Justice Atuguba to recuse himself, General News of Tuesday, 15 January 2013, Source: Joy Online: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=262120&comment=0#com

[6] NPP legal team must apologise to Atuguba et al – Nana Ato Dadzie, General News of Saturday, 12 January 2013, Source: Joy Online: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=261962&comment=0#com

[7] Comment: NO WHERE TO HIDE, Author: GENERAL DeGAULE Date: 2013-01-14 04:02:18, Comment to: Akufo-Addo’s legal weakness exposed again, General News of Monday, 14 January 2013, Source: The Herald Newspaper: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=262069&comment=8776101#com

[8] NPP Won’t Take Lessons In Morality From Nana Ato Dadzie - Egbert Faibille, General News of Tuesday, 15 January 2013, Source: peacefmonline: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=262177&comment=0#com

[9] Akufo Addo Election Fraud Intrigues, General News of Tuesday, 15 January 2013, Source: The Republic, http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=262176&comment=0#com

“Akufo-Addo Subverts Ghanaian Interests At The IEA Debate!” - Kwesi Pratt, Jnr.

Mr. Kwesi Pratt, Jnr. takes the host of Radio Gold, Mr. Alhassan Shaibu Suhini, host of the famous Alhaji & Alhaji Show through an analysis of the essential bankruptcy that underlies the foreign policy postures of the presidential candidate of Ghana's opposition party, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, of the New Patriotic Party, NPP at the Institute of Economic Affairs' recent Presidential debate at the Banquet Hall, State House, Accra, Ghana. Transcript by the Office of The Odikro, Nana Akyea Mensah. Listen: ▶ KWESI PRATT ON THE IEA DEBATE NOV 2012 by Pan-Africanist International. http://soundcloud.com/pan-africanisr-internatio/kwesi-pratt-on-the-iea-debate#

KWESI PRATT JNR.: “I feel so uncomfortable about the fact that the discussion of foreign policy was reduced to a discussion about our relationship with La Côte d'Ivoire. Because foreign policy is much, much, more broader! Much, much more broader than our relations with La Côte d'Ivoire. And yet Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo managed to reduce the whole discussion to our relations with La Côte d'Ivoire, and I felt it was hugely problematic.

I think that foreign policy issues are essentially about how to maximise our advantage in the comity of nations. Foreign policy is simply the appreciation of the fact that no country has everything it needs in terms of resources and so on. And therefore, it is important to relate to the rest of the world so that we can deal with the things that we are not capable of dealing, and so that we can also help others overcome problems which confront them, for which we have an advantage. That is the basis of foreign policy.

Again, I think that foreign policy ought to have ingredients. And if you look at Ghana's foreign policy from 1957, one of the key ingredients in Ghana's foreign policy has been international justice. The search for justice, the struggle to end exploitation, whether it is in the form of slavery, whether it is in the form of classical colonialism, or it is in the form of modern day neo-colonialism. And that is why Ghana has been firmly committed to the decolonisation process throughout the world. The element of international justice is key in foreign policy. And that was skipped.

Now with reference to La Côte d'Ivoire, I am surprised that anybody discussing the relations between Ghana and La Côte d'Ivoire could ignore the claim that our oil resources, or part of our oil resources belong to La Côte d'Ivoire! Over the last year or two, La Côte d'Ivoire has made all kinds of claims on Ghana's Jubilee Field, to the extent that the Ivorian National Petroleum Company issued a threat to the operators in the Jubilee Field to stop work or face the consequences.

Now, any Ghanaian with an interest in the protection of Ghana's resources and its utilization for the development of our people if he wants to comment about the relationship with La Côte d'Ivoire ought to focus some attention on the claims of the Ouattara Administration that part or all of our oil resources belong to them. Nana Akufo-Addo was not interested in that. His main interest was how to keep Ouattara in power. And as a Ghanaian, I am totally disgusted by this picture of a man who wants to be the President of the Republic of Ghana!

He is not interested in the Ivorian claims at all! But, you know what makes it worse? When Nana Akufo-Addo was asked how he would find resources to support his free Senior High School proposal, he said it would be revenue form the oil. Now, if that is the case, just in case La Côte d'Ivoire succeeded in claiming a substantial part of our oil resources, it would mean that the free SHS proposal have collapsed at birth. And yet Nana Akufo-Addo is not interested in protecting source of the resources he would use to fund the free SHS system that he has proposed. That is how serious he appears to be about the free SHS! The very source of funding, he is not interested in protecting, and I find that worrying.

My brother, it is interesting for us to go back into history. And it is interesting for us to go back into history because in this very instance, history will teach us why the New Patriotic Party and its Presidential candidate, is jumping over itself to have a collaborative relationship with the Ouattara Administration, even if it means subverting Ghana's interests. And I recommend very strongly that those who can, should try and read Mahoney's book, “JFK, Ordeal in Africa”. I think that portion starts from page 185 onwards. They should try and read that. Nkrumah's government suffered tremendously as a result of sabotage, planned and executed by the Danquah -Busia elements, with the full support of the Houphouët-Boigny government in La Côte d'Ivoire.

Throughout Nkrumah's reign, he never had a day of peace, as a result of the subversion of the Danquah-Busia elements and the reactionary neo-colonialist government of La Côte d'Ivoire, headed by Houphouët-Boigny, a government in which Ouattara served. A government in which Ouattara served!

Today, in Dansoman, lives a woman called Asantewa. And I am sure all of you know the story of Asantewa. Asantewa was a young school girl, Young Pioneer, for that matter, who went to the Accra Sports Stadium to participate in an activity that Nkrumah was to address. Danquah-Busia elements stormed the stadium with bombs in one of their terrorist activities, and Asantewa had one of her legs amputated. Today, you should see Asantewa. The other leg is so badly swollen, and up till today, Asantewa is in extreme pains. Those bombs came from La Côte d'Ivoire and other countries, but they came principally from La Côte d'Ivoire!

Again, it is important to go back into history and to learn. And Dr. Tony Aidoo mentioned that but Dr. Tony Aidoo did not mention the role played by La Côte d'Ivoire! Busia's government teamed up with La Côte d'Ivoire to subvert the aspirations of the African people with regards to toppling Apartheid, when the Organisation of African Unity, had come to the conclusion that Apartheid needed to be uprooted, and that one of the means of uprooting Apartheid was to isolate Apartheid and to impose sanctions on Apartheid.

The Danquah-Busia elements in Ghana and Houphouët-Boigny's government in La Côte d'Ivoire, decided to subvert the Organisation of African Unity, and opened up trade links and other diplomatic links with South Africa to the shame and horror of Africans everywhere in the world! So the collaboration did not begin today! It began a long time ago, working against the interests of the African people!

Now, you see a discussion of La Côte d'Ivoire crisis has been skewed in such a way as to create the impression that Laurent Gbagbo was some kind of monster who needed to be booted out of power. I totally disagree with any analysis like that, no matter where that analysis is coming from! Why? The electoral regulations of La Côte d'Ivoire, the Constitution of La Côte d'Ivoire, allowed any of the contesting parties to ask for a recount of the votes. In much the same way that Ghanaian electoral laws and the Constitution allow for a recount of votes. You understand what I am saying?

At the end of that election, the only demand made by the Gbagbo Administration was that the results should be recounted. And Gbagbo stated very clearly that if those results were recounted and he had lost, he was willing to leave power. So it was not a case of Gbagbo hanging on blindly to power. It was a case in which Gbagbo said, let us recount the ballots, in conformity with the Ivorian Constitution, in conformity with Ivorian electoral laws.

Alassane Ouattara said no! Daabi da! We will not allow the recount! If you don't leave office, we will bomb you to ras! And don't forget that before the elections, the rebels supporting Alassane Ouattara had been armed to the teeth, ready to shoot their way to power. That is what happened in La Côte d'Ivoire! Because Gbagbo insisted on the proper things being done, and Alassane Ouattara objected to the proper things being done, more than 3000 Ivorian citizens lost their lives! Many of them killed by rebels supporting Ouattara.

You should be reading reports of Human Rights Watch. You should be reading reports of Amnesty International. And since they love UN reports, you should be reading UN reports. In one day, the rebels supporting Ouattara killed more than 200 innocent Ivorians who were taking refuge in a church! Isn't it interesting that today Gbagbo is standing trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity? The wife has just been indicted also, and Alassane Ouattara is walking free! Isn't that interesting? That is justice! I am disgusted! Completely disgusted!

But Suhini, back to the point. Guillaume Soro was in Accra. Guillaume Soro was a Prime Minister, now he is the Speaker of the Ivorian Parliament. And Guillaume Soro said that the Ivorian government was eternally grateful to Professor Mills for helping to resolve the crisis of the Ivory coast. Guillaume Soro said if it was not for the wise counsel of Professor Mills, the Ivorian crisis could not have been resolved.

Guillaume Soro's visit was followed by a visit by President Ouattara. And President Ouattara made it clear that President Mills had played a key role in the resolution of the Ivorian conflict. I interviewed Laurent Gbagbo. And Laurent Gbagbo said that President Mills was one of the wisest leaders in Africa. Ouattara repeated that. The opponent of Laurent Gbagbo came to Accra and repeated that and said, look, President Mills was one of the wisest African leaders, and that without him, the crisis could not have been resolved.

Apparently, Nana Akufo-Addo did not listen to all of this. The man who was so interested in protecting Ivorian interests and so on, did not even listen to his mentor Ouattara, when Ouattara praised President Mills to this level, and went on to make the kind of statements he made at the IEA.

But my brother, listen to me and listen to me carefully. Nana Akufo-Addo claims to have read the UN report. I don't think he has read the UN report because anybody who has read the UN report would notice that the UN report was quoting from a French intelligence company! And indeed, some of the quotations were in quotation marks. Clearly indicating that the UN, whilst using the report, was distancing itself from the report. It was not adopting the report as its own. The fact that they were in quotation marks is clear. But Nana Akufo-Addo would have us believe that that report was a UN report!

There is something also which is interesting about that so-called UN report. One, it was leaked even before it had been presented to the UN for adoption, you understand what I am saying? So, is that what Nana Akufo-Addo is going to base his policy on? Leaked documents which do not have the stamp of approval and so on? Is that what he is going to base his foreign policy on? I wonder what Ghana will become! We will be moving towards a banana republic if this is going to be our attitude in foreign policy!

But, be that as it may. Nana Akufo-Addo, who has been a Foreign Minister before, should be familiar with the UN Charter and other regulations. The UN is estopped by its own Charter from carrying out espionage activities in member countries. So, the UN could not have sent secret agents quietly into Ghana to establish the things that the French company established. It is against the UN Charter!

Now, if the UN is violating its own Charter and operating as if it were a band of guerilla movement and so on, we expect Ghanaian people, especially those who want to be our President, to defend Ghana's interests, and not to insist that the UN should behave properly! Unfortunately, we have a man who wants to be President of Ghana, who is condoning the violation of the UN's own Charter. And I am worried about this development.

In any case, Radio France International had an interview with an Ivorian military officer, in charge of the area where the so-called rebels were supposed to have attacked from Ghana and so on. We published it in The Insight, I am sure you saw it, in which the officer stated clearly that there was no Ghanaian involvement, and that the territory which was described as being Ghanaian territory was indeed an Ivorian territory, and that the attack came from within La Côte d'Ivoire! A La Côte d'Ivoire army officer! Nana Akufo-Addo did not hear that. He does not want to hear that! He is interested in subverting Ghana's interests and so on. And I am so, so disgusted by this development!

Now, I can say more about La Côte d'Ivoire because for me, it represents a betrayal of Ghanaian interests. The posture taken by Akufo-Addo is a clear betrayal of Ghanaian interests! Now, why would any Presidential candidate betray his own country, and route for another country? Of course, there are so many rumours about the linkage between Nana Akufo-Addo and some of the people in La Côte d'Ivoire. Some of it have been published. I am not the one to repeat these allegations, but you see, this conduct at the IEA can only lend credence to some of those rumours!

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Why Was Akufo-Addo Dismissed From Oxford University? Part Two,

Part Two, By Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.

I have a feeling that there is going to be an announcement soon, trying to do as much damage control as possible, over these latest revelations concerning the circumstances under which young Master William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left Oxford University in the 1962/63 academic year. About a year ago, James Kwabena Bomfe, popularly known as Kabila stated categorically:

“For a fact Nana Addo never went to Oxford; he never got admission or applied to go to Oxford. It is his father who went to Oxford”.

The paper also notes, “Kabila as Bomfe is popularly called, said that the NPP flag-bearer has refused to comment on the issue because he (Nana) is treating it with the contempt it deserves.”

Akufo Addo's contempt has expired because more and more Ghanaians are beginning to demand answers, with the revelation that indeed, “Mr William Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO was a member of the University (and of New College) during the 1962/63 academic year'.” [Why has Nana Akufo Addo omitted Oxford University from his Profile? - ModernGhana.com http://www.modernghana.com/news/429126/1/why-has-nana-akufo-addo-omitted-oxford-university-.html]

This is why I expect him to finally clear his throat and say something about it, or sink with it. I wouldn't bet too much on it though. The refusal to acknowledge defeat, fault, or apologize for some wrong-doing appears to be so much alien in Nana Akufo-Addo's nature to such an extent that no other person than his own cousin, Mr. Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko, the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute had this to say about the reason why Nana Addo lost the 2008 Presidential elections:

"The political opponents of the Danquah-Dombo-Busiasts have always been better at saying, “Ghanaians don't need a president who is arrogant and looks down on them. They need a president who stands up for them. One who feels their pain.” These words were successfully used against a man who for more than 30 years (more than any of his rivals in the 2008 contest) dedicated his time, money, energy and intellect to fighting for the cause of the masses – Nana Akufo-Addo, an Akyem aristocrat." (See: "Are Danquah-Busiasts Really Elitist?", by danquahinstitute.org, Wednesday, 18 November 2009.)

One of the first steps Nana Addo took to dispel this perception of “arrogance” was to board “tro tro” bus from Nima Lorry Park to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. But when it comes to heeding calls to withdraw ethnocentric statements, or statements inciting inter-ethnic conflict and calling for war, such as “all die be die”, he has been more than deaf! Not even when the Upper West branch of his own party felt offended by his use of “goats” in reference to them, did he bother to apologize!

As Joseph Conrad would have put it, “it will be very interesting for science” to see a humble Nana Akufo-Addo taking questions and throwing some light on this. The funny thing is that I know they are going to have to do it if they ever want to cross the bridge to the Presidency. That insurmountable bridge is to restore the confidence of Ghanaians who are asking so many questions, as to whether or not this is a man to be trusted! That is why I know they do not have a choice, but as usual, they will never respond until it is too late!

The latest appeal in town is: “Judge Not Akufo-Addo By His Past!" I can understand such appeals, if he comes clean with his past and does not lie about it in the present. All the excuses that mention names of famous politicians who either smoked and or inhaled the stuff, do not mean much, because, at least, all these politicians either confessed or lied about it publicly. They did not “treat it with the contempt that it deserves! So far the NPP strategy is to keep quiet about it and expect us not to judge him with his past! The issue is not one of his past. It is one of his present: can we trust a man who is lying about his past?

In fact, it was no other person than ex-President J. A Kufour, who actually made that observation for the first time:

"Mr Kufuor noted that it was not appropriate to judge people based on what they did or did not do in the past, adding that Ghanaians should not judge Nana Akufo-Addo with things he is perceived to have done in the past."

With all due respect, is the President suggesting this for all of us or only an exceptional treatment for Nana Akufo-Addo? If so, does he not think it would have been wiser to have also explained why we are all judged by our past actions rather than our intentions for the future but not Akufo-Addo? Would he be saying this if he were to be proud of Akufo-Addo's past? Why is it not appropriate to base our judgement on what Akufo-Addo "did or did not do in the past"? It is ridiculous to admonish us that "Ghanaians should not judge Nana Akufo-Addo with things he is perceived to have done in the past." Are we to judge him with the things he is going to do in the future? This is a good one! This is new, fresh and original!

The reason why he is making this bizarre request for us to forget about the past is not far-fetched:

"Former President Kufuor urged the electorate to support Nana Akufo-Addo’s bid to become the next president of the country by voting massively for the NPP presidential candidate in next year’s general election." [ See: Kufuor: "Judge Not Akufo-Addo By His Past!" | http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/articles/201109/73550.php]

The whole point is that maybe we are willing to forgive, but the main obstacle in our way is that it is difficult to forgive a liar who is still telling the same lie. This is why it is important for Akufo-Addo himself to clear the air. This is probably not as easy as a “tro tro” ride, but it might help to dispel perceptions of arrogance. Please Nana, come forward and clear the air, you have everything to win from this! Any prolonged silence will spell nothing but the end of your political career. It is entirely up to you, as your nephew, Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr, puts it, "A word to the wise can never be enough; else there would be no fools, to begin with!"

Forward Ever! Backwards Never! Long live Ghana!

Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.
Give me a follow on twitter: twitter.com/TheOdikro

Why Was Akufo-Addo Dismissed From Oxford University?

Part One, By Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.

It is fitting and proper that Ghanaians want to know about the character and the integrity of any individual who offers himself for public office. Truth telling is fundamental in establishing trust. Massaging the details of one's past and telling lies by omission or commission erodes such a trust. It is for this reason that the issue of whether or not the NPP Presidential candidate, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo's silence over his stint at Oxford University raises many an eye brow. I am writing this piece to call on Nana Akufo-Addo to come clean with Ghanaians and do the right thing by spilling the beans in order to urgently restore his own credibility.

I just read an interesting article by a conscientious Ghanaian who is also non-partisan, which brings into a sharp focus as to why Akufo-Addo has remained dead silence on his stint at Oxford University in the 1962/63 academic year. If Nana Akufo-Addo was betting on his ability to cover up such a juicy story in this information age, he better think again, and plan an appropriate damage control. An authoritative feature article by Mr. Kofi Ata, published 11 November 2012, has the title: “Why has Nana Akufo Addo omitted Oxford University from his Profile?”

“I can confirm on authority that, I submitted Freedom of Information Request (FOI) to Oxford University in January 2012 asking the university to confirm if Mr William Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo also known as Nana Akufo Addo was a student at the university. The university in a reply dated 27 January 2012 (Ref. FOI/2012/Jan), stated as follows: 'We have searched our records and the only published information that falls within the scope of your request is that Mr William Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO was a member of the University (and of New College) during the 1962/63 academic year'.” [Why has Nana Akufo Addo omitted Oxford University from his Profile? - ModernGhana.com http://www.modernghana.com/news/429126/1/why-has-nana-akufo-addo-omitted-oxford-university-.html]

Even though it has been an open secret that Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo did set his feet at Oxford as a student, the NPP has been adamant that Nana never went to Oxford. Mr. Ata checked with Oxford to find out the truth when Kabila categorically denied that Akufo-Addo had ever set foot at Oxford:

“He revealed that Nana Akufo-Addo was never a student at Oxford University as it is being alleged.

'For a fact Nana Addo never went to Oxford; he never got admission or applied to go to Oxford. It is his father who went to Oxford'. Kabila as Bomfe is popularly called, said that the NPP flag-bearer has refused to comment on the issue because he (Nana) is treating it with the contempt it deserves.” [Where is Nana Addo’s Oxford University record? Felix Kwakye quizzes | Ghanamma.com http://www.ghanamma.com/2011/12/where-is-nana-addos-oxford-university-record-felix-kwakye-quizzes/]

By the time of the IEA debate, Mr. Kofi Ata had been fully informed by the

that, yes, indeed, Akufo-Addo was enrolled at Oxford University “and of New College) during the 1962/63 academic year”. It must have come as a big surprise and quite curious that Akufo-Addo virtually mentioned all the schools he attended, including Primary school, but omitted his enrolment at Oxford University. Now, why would he want to hide that? Is he ashamed of the University? What is wrong with being at Oxford for a almost one academic year?

Akufo-Addo has carefully doctored all his records to toe a certain line. They all exclude mentioning his days in Oxford. Even Wikipedia stands unchallenged! I urge Mr. Ata to help in up-dating the information on wikipedia as they are based on facts. So far this is what we have there:

“Early life and education: ...Akufo-Addo received his primary education at the Government Boys School and later at the Rowe Road School (now Kinbu) both in Accra Central. He went on to England to study for his O Level and A Level examinations. Akufo-Addo returned to Ghana in 1962 to teach at the Accra Academy before going to the University of Ghana in 1964 to read economics. After graduating as an economist, he went on to read Law in the UK and was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971 and then the Ghana Bar in 1975.” [Nana Akufo-Addo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_Akufo-Addo]

The reason for this large-scale attempt at a cover-up is not far-fetched. Exactly a year ago, on Friday, 9^th December 2011, in “Where is Nana Addo’s Oxford University record? Felix Kwakye quizzes” we read:

“A member of the communication team of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Felix Kwaye Ofosu has questioned the motive behind Nana Akufo-Addo’s exclusion of his academic credential at Oxford University from his curriculum vitae.

According to him, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag-bearer’s refusal to make public his academic performance in Oxford University gives credence to rumours that he (Nana) was sacked from the institution for smoking marijuana.”

The story of wee-smoking has been collaborated in several unrelated sources. The most famous of them all was from an old friend who in trying to defend him from more serious charges of cocaine abuse, admitted the lesser crime of marijuana smoking. This is what the Wikileaks say:

"¶3...When questioned about persistent rumors of Akufo-Addo's own cocaine habit, Pratt admitted that he had personal knowledge of the candidate's drug use, but that it was not cocaine. "Nana used to smoke a lot of marijuana," Pratt said, "and I'm telling you, a lot. Even in the morning, there used to be a cloud around him and you could see that he was high. But I never saw him do cocaine, and I think that is just an assumption people made."

In another development, Dr. Kwesi Aning, another very respected security analyst who is head of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre, and an NPP sympathiser, was quoted to have admitted that Akufo-Addo had used drugs in his younger days, but that was now "under control." He added cryptically that "you can check with German intelligence on that." Apparently, the only people unaware of this habit is the average Ghanaian voter. This is why we need Akufo-Addo to confirm that, indeed he was sacked from Oxford University, after being caught smoking wee, so that we will know what to do on the 6^th of December, 2012. One thing is sure: his continued silence on this issue is no longer helpful, and he risks automatic rejection with the contempt that an arrogant, unrepentant and lying wee-smoker deserves!

Forward Ever! Backwards Never! Long live Ghana!

Nana Akyea Mensah, The Odikro.

Give me a follow on twitter: twitter.com/TheOdikro