The subject of unity, which has become a household one on the country’s political plane, according to former President John Agyekum Kufuor, cannot be achieved by force or at the expense of freedom.

The Ghanaian statesman passed the remark when he delivered the second Danquah Institute-organised Liberty Lectures at the Accra International Conference Centre in Accra under the theme, ‘Development In Freedom: Empowering The People To Develop The Nation’.

While unity was sine qua non for development, it could not be done at the expense of freedom or propaganda, he said.

“Unity is essential for our development. But unity cannot be achieved by force, or at the expense of freedom or by propaganda,” he added.

It was a full house with a long guest list including such NPP gurus as Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman; Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, former Defence Minister; Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe; Stephen Asamoah Boateng; and a retired Inspector General of Police, Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.

Amma Busia, a former Council of State member, chaired the function.

A side attraction at the event was when Alan Kyerematen ushered in Nana Akufo-Addo to the elation of the attendees.

Nana Akufo-Addo gave the maiden freedom lecture.

According to former President Kufuor, unity achieved through force and propaganda “invariably turn out to be non- sustainable and crumble at the least sign of pressure. The component parts of the whole should be equal shareholders and must feel they have a stake in the success of the nation. That is the view of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia people”.

Ghanaians, he said, “are united in their quest for greater opportunities, peace, liberty and prosperity. The competition between political parties is about the best way to achieve these goals, the most responsible way to use our national resources and which leader and party have the most credible proposition to move Ghana forward together”.

Leadership, stated, “has, by and large, come from the NPP, and its antecedent parties, the Progress Party, the United Party (UP) and the UGCC”, adding that the nation witnessed some of the strongest periods of growth and advancement during the tenures of the Progress Party and the NPP.

He said another opportunity beckoned and “the NPP stands ready to act and to deliver freedom, development and opportunities for prosperity for every Ghanaian.”

Akufo-Addo Is The Best

As the debate rages on, as to who among the presidential candidates and political parties stands the best chance of addressing the challenges of the nation, Mr Kufuor was not hesitant in pointing at Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP.

“Into this year’s elections, the main challenge facing the nation must be which of the contending leaders with their parties offers the likeliest efficient and effective government to tackle and overcome the socio-economic problems afflicting the people,” he said.

Such a debate, he added, should be about the quality of democracy, how to strengthen institutions of governance, how to increase participatory democracy at the grassroots level, and how to ensure “we get value for money on negotiations done on behalf of Ghana, whether it is for loan agreements, public procurements, allocation of oil blocks, building contracts, or the payment of judgment debts”.

Nana Akufo –Addo, for him, was the best person who could address the foregone.

“I have no doubt the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, is the most rounded and experienced in the field and also has the tried and tested team of would-be ministers and government officials. Most of them worked with me in government and l vouch for them,” he said.

Continuing to repose confidence in Nana Akufo-Addo, he stated, “I have known him for decades. He served in my government as Attorney General and as Minister of Foreign Affairs and, come January 7, 2013, God-willing, he will be the next president of the Republic of Ghana.”

Property Owning Democracy

For those who, according to him, had tried to bastardize the core philosophy of the NPP of “building a property-owning democracy”, he said the module had worked in China, a country he said he visited last month and where the adoption of home-ownership had worked positively for the country.

“I was in China last month, and even in China, home-ownership is being promoted as more and more Chinese people are being pulled from poverty into the growing middle class,” he noted.

There were huge cities that had been transformed from slums because of the determination of its government, he said, adding that the concept of a property-owning democracy was not elitist but about spreading wealth.

This year’s lecture, he pointed out, was delayed in deference to the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

“May the soul of John Evans Atta Mills rest in perfect peace,” he said, observing that “in these past four weeks, we have witnessed a nation coming together to pay respects not just to the man but to the office of the presidency and the importance of that office in our democracy.”

This year’s election, he said, “is the verdict of Ghanaians on the last four years; it is a referendum on the future of this country; it is about the future of all Ghanaians.

It is about which of the candidates has the best team and capacity, vision, programmes, competence and commitment to deliver for our nation and all of us individuals. “

To Ghanaians, he said, “Look at the records; what has been achieved in the past; look at the promises; look at the leadership profiles and look at the value of the cedi and the cost of living of our people and vote wisely.”