.... Are Getting Overboard – CGIDJ
As all of us condemn Sir John’s addressing of the Supreme Court and Justice Atuguba; the head of the nine member panel sitting on the historic election petition which subsequently led to his conviction for treading across the line of caution, there is a point at which we can pause and critically examine Sir John’s motive for the outburst which has indeed brought him much pain than any of us.

Sometimes, those towing the front lines of great associations like ours place their necks on the line and could suffer any form of abuse and pain for a reason that was intended to help the far reaching interest of the association or the people he is leading. When those sacrificial actions of them happens to cause any damage to his people, he receive the condemnation and rebuke and this is expected to end when the leader involved have received a substantial amount of nailing and have shown enough remorse.

When Sir John hooked to the lines of Oman FM and spewed out the words of rage in protest of his observations of how our lead counsel was being treated at the Supreme Court, nobody supported such radicalism. And from that day till now he has gone through many kinds of abuse and reprimands, all of which he has absorbed and quietly contained. Even in Court as he was being baptised with fire and brimstone, the learned lawyer remained silent like a lamb led to the altar. No matter how guilty one may think he was, he had the right to defend himself and give justifications to his anger and the ensuing outburst.

But for peace he chose to even advice the teaming supporters of our great party not to even come for his support when he headed to the Court for his trial. He even took time to advise them to be calm no matter what might happen at the Court. Sir John after his outburst on Oman FM has consistently preached to our communicators to refrain from making contemptuous statements. To a large extent he has shown remorse and a great sense of maturity with this act.

Calling for his head at this crucial time when he need our support and encouragement is rather daunting and over exaggerated. Our elders say: “He who goes fetching with the pot is eventually the one who breaks it”. If we hailed him for defending the party through the tick and the tin and is certified to have the party at heart, his mistakes should be considered as that of the hen who steps on her chicks while busy searching the earth for food for them.

If Sir John’s speech was aimed at damaging our great party we would also join those who are calling for his head. But his words were one of a party leader who felt his party was been unfavourably treated and failed to address his worry in the right way. As bad as his speech may have sounded it was intended at defending the NPP and not to damage it.

It is this consideration that we believe the NPP party should make a room in our hearts to forgive him as a party Chief Executive Officer. After all he has learnt his lessons and has had more experience to the immense one he already has. Hon. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie a.k.a. Sir John should not be pushed to resign. It is not also necessary to lay any punishment on him which will scare people from sacrificing for our great Osono Party.

He may have been wrong, but that was his observation and he was doing that in the interest of the party. The psychology trauma, the conviction and the pains our able General Secretary has gone through so far is enough so the calls for his head should stop.

It is said: “Nea ?p?ade?ak?k?t?k?no, y?ny?nabr?.”

God bless the New Patriotic Party, God bless our Homeland Ghana.

COALITION OF GHANAIANS IN ITALY FOR DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE (CGIDJ)

The Secretary – Mr. Noah Asare

Chairman – Mr. George Annor