-Angles for another job and promises to be back on the roll

Accra, Oc 29, Chronicle -- THE FALLEN former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the 2000 Presidential Candidate for the United Ghana Movement (UGM) now in hibernation, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, has made his maiden appearance on Good Evening Programme on Metro TV long after he allegedly resigned from VRA amidst controversies.

Sporting a full-bearded new look, Dr. Wereko Brobby?s new persona made the host of the programme, Paul Adom- Otchere wonder aloud whether he wanted to look like Saddam Hussein at the time of his arrest in Iraq. Dr. Wereko Brobby, however, quipped: ?I think I look rather more like Colonel Emeka Ojukwu,? the secessionist Biafran leader during the Nigerian Civil war.

He did what cynics and the discerning viewers understood to be angling for another government job by pledging to contribute towards the nation?s development with his ?expertise? in energy.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby whose new identity threw the viewers into bewilderment, was vague and virtually tongue- tied when grilled about the future of the party he so noisily formed and pushed to frustrate the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its flagbearer, Mr. J.A. Kufuor in 2000.

For the first time, the usually glib Wereko Brobby, was stumped for words when asked about the party, the UGM: ?I really don?t know.

I came to this country sixteen years ago as a technocrat to help move the country forward. I really did not come as a politician but if the opportunities come, you need to use them.? Explaining why the UGM went on recess, the former VRA CEO said, ?The point I am trying to make about why the UGM went on leave was that the art of politics and the requirement of politics are to see yourself whether you can put yourself at the helm of the pack and not wanting to get power by all means at every cost. It is part of the process and at the end of the day, if the contribution to the process is such that people recognize, ??.?

Continuing, Wereko Brobby, also nicknamed as ?Tarzan?, moaned that everything that concerned the affairs of the nation was politicized.

Ironically, Dr. Brobby himself mastered the art of politicising everything when he was in full flight in his days as a columnist and political activist par excellence.

He was of the view that after JAK had won this year?s elections, which was visible, he may not be a political activist any more.

This declaration left viewers in no doubt as to what he wanted. He said he would avail himself to make a substantial contribution to the development of the nation.

?The important thing is that if you think you have what it takes, then do it. I don?t think I would be a political activist anymore,? he pointed out.

Rationalizing further, he said there was the perception of a type of required leadership, which prompted him to lead the UGM. He expressed shock and dismay about how others just put themselves into leadership positions just because they wanted to become presidents without offering any ideas to the development of the nation, adding, ?I would not say that I would not contribute to the nation. I will be contributing to the public, the future is the future,? he said.

Touching on the nation?s democracy, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey, a.k.a ?Tarzan? who was accused of spending millions of cedis on his birthday and placed himself above the Board during his tenure of office at VRA as CEO, said, ?Democracy is moving forward tremendously except that the NDC is complaining about what the NPP complained about when in opposition.?

Asked about the RADIO EYE, he revealed that following the setting up of his radio station, many proposals were made to the commission set up by Mr. Totobi Quakyi, the then Minister of Information but nothing was done about what they had submitted.

Tarzan, who would soon deliver a lecture on broadcasting pluralism in Ghana and its impact, said, ?As we speak right now, you would be surprised that there is no broadcasting law in Ghana. I am not saying that two wrongs make a right but there were opportunities at the time with the incumbent government to have looked dispassionately at some of these things and ensure that laws were passed when you know that your rule would not be forever.?

The former VRA CEO said there was the need to sit down to put things together to entrench democracy that would be fair to all and sundry. ?I read their complaints with a wry smile and I think that we wouldn?t have come this way if people had had the foresight to address these matters.?

Abandoning UGM would be about the proverbial 100th project he had touched and left in ruins. Since his fall, he attempted a resurrection of sorts by launching a magazine, ?Around Ghana?, the third publication he had launched over the last five years. None of them survived the rough and tumble of the tough publishing industry.