When I initially heard that, certain elements within the national Democratic congress are plotting to assassinate the former president Jerry John Rawlings, I laughed it off, however I couldn’t stop myself from crying tears of disdain because it continues to stagger my mind how some supposedly highly educated Ghanaians like Ato Ahwoi, adamantly refuses to accept the basic fact that, Rawlings’ factor in the NDC cannot be discounted.
I am disconcerted by the renaissance of politics of attrition in present day politics, and the increasing rapprochement between the presidency and some of the nation’s acerbic journalists like Kwesi Pratt whose character is tainted with corruption. The ghastly attacks on the personality of Mr Rawlings rest squarely on the presidency and Ato Ahwoi. Why would a responsible government, in its wisdom, support trusted media hooligans to run down the former president of the republic. Are we not tired of Ato Ahwo’s shameless shenanigans?
The real threat to President Mills and the nation’s democracy are the Ahwois, Kojo Tsikatas, P.V. Obengs and Totobi Quakyes who believe they can profit from the supposedly weak president. Since when did Rawlings become a threat to national security under the NDC administration? What does Ato Ahwoi wants? I challenge Ato Ahwoi to come out and deny his involvement in the recent attempt by certain elements within the NDC to snipe the character of Jerry John Rawlings.
Today because of politics of patronage, the Ahwois are heaving self-defeating sighs of angst against the very people who made them gain any prominence within the political echelons of this land of our death. Mr Ato Ahwoi is a clear danger to our nation’s security. He schemes, lies and manipulate! He is a divisive element in the NDC and his actions and inactions could spell doom for the NDC and the country as a whole if not checked. The conduct of Ato Ahwoi does not meet the standard that should be set by a policy adviser to the President. His attitude erodes the trust that is necessary for party unity. Ato Ahwoi’s mindset is to destroy the NDC. People don’t get it, how much could we stomarch this shenanigans? I never thought some of these guys could be such unpatriotic Marxist revolutionalists. And seriously, President Mills is beginning to look like the pretender I suspected. Great speeches but false promises just like the erstwhile Kufour administration. Mills the “Asomdwehene” is rapidly becoming a war monger thanks to the shenanigans of his policy advisors. How can you be a Christian and not be a Christ like? How possible can somebody claim to be an NDC and not believes in the principles and ideals that gave birth to the party? And now president Rawlings is no longer accepted in his own household. The treachery is getting out of hand.
Ghana since Mills’ inauguration as President has resembled a “spoot movie” and yet they want former President Rawlings and the rest of us to keep quiet and pretend all is well. The likes of Ato Ahwoi think we should uphold their principles, principles we may not believe in but which serves their parochial interests instead of advancing the cause of the collective. Why is it acceptable for the likes of Ato Ahwoi to treat Rawlings as a fugitive in his own party, yet see the scrutiny of the President as a taboo?
Stangely or perhaps, not so strangely, the presidency appears to have introduced elitism into the ranks of the NDC. What does social democracy mean to the likes of Ato Ahwoi? Contrary to his public theatrics, and his loud growls that could drown the barking of a hungry dog, Ato Ahwoi lack the moral patina required of an astute politician and a policymaker. Matter of fact, his close association with President Mills is a treat to national security.
Those around the president who believe Rawlings is no longer a factor in the NDC must stand up to be counted. There can be only one camp in the NDC and that is the founder’s camp because the NDC party is one big family without any factions. And those who want to create mills camp must come to terms with this basic fact or must leave the party with their dishonesty and treachery.
If the Mills led administrations has a sense of responsibility, integrity and accountability, they should distance themselves from these political businessmen because they are a threat to party unity. Should we leave our nation’s fate to politicians who profess to care, yet careless about the wellbeing of their citizens? Should we waive our right to be heard at the centre of power, and allow gleeful policy makers to think for us? Some of these politicians who were plucked from obscurity are not real thinkers by definition of the word.
Let’s encourage discussions that send a message to our leaders that democratic tyranny would not be tolerated. Our nation deserves leaders, who do not indulge in treachery, attrition and bigotry. We need leaders who are prepared to sacrifice their friendship in the interest of nation. President Mills should have the courage to discard the vindictive suggestions of his policy advisers and build a united party and a better Ghana or else posterity will hold his neck to the tie.
We shall be back
Emmanuel Dela Coffie
[email protected] / www.delacoffie.wordpress.com