I write this article as I looked at the just ended IEA Presidential Debate and matters arising. I will then relate it to a Presidency of Nana Akuffo-Addo and then the discerning Ghanaian would make up his or her mind as to who to vote for on December 7, 2012.

I have read several articles and heard many news items blaming the PNC Presidential Candidate, Mr. Hassan Ayariga for the poor showing of the NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Akuffo-Addo. The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr. Kwadwo Afriyie (Sir John) is reported to have said that Mr. Hassan Ayariga is the most “blockheaded” person on earth who has no equal in his league. He continued to say Mr. Ayariga was bought and bribed by the NDC to ensure that he came against Nana Akuffo-Addo during the debate.

The ex-Presidential Press Secretary of President Kuffour, Mr. Kwabena Agyapong, also attacked Mr. Ayariga by accusing him of making Nana Akuffo-Addo, the center stage of the debate. A Political Science Lecturer, Mr. Kwesi Amakye (An NPP guru) has also attacked Mr. Ayariga of being a pawn of the ruling NDC. He continued to say that Mr. Ayariga’s repetitive attacks on Nana Akuffo-Addo were as if he intended to harass and torture Nana. The Vice President of an NPP Think Tank, IMANI Ghana in an interview with XYZ News went further to say that Mr. Ayariga didn’t deserve to be at the debate. He described Mr. Ayariga as a non-factor and that the debate could have been better without him.
Are Ghanaians observing what is going on in Ghana and what to expect under the Presidency of Nana Akuffo-Addo? Was Mr. Hassan Ayariga not one of the debaters? Is he not a Ghanaian and a Presidential Candidate of a party? Was Hassan Ayariga an intruder? Is he also not a heart beat from the Presidency? So why do the NPP think he was at the debate to polish what Nana Akuffo-Addo was going to say. Maybe too, it is arrogance on the part of the NPP. They think they only have the final say on all issues.
Under the Presidency of Nana Akuffo-Addo, I tell you, no Ghanaian dare say something or cough if the administration finds itself deep in corruption and the freedom of Ghanaians becomes something of the past. Nana Akuffo-Addo just messed up at a debate and the whole NPP machinery is against someone who was also amongst the debaters. What if Mr. Ayariga was a questioner or a reporter? You bet.
As I watched the debate, I saw clearly that Nana Akuffo-Addo was very incompetent and lacked basic knowledge of the subject matter being discussed. At one point in time, Nana was shaking like a pregnant fish. This is the problem the NPP should address if they really want to get about 45% of the votes, and leave Mr. Hassan Ayariga alone. I think the NPP machinery should stop treating Mr. Ayariga as an intruder at the debate and start respecting him just as they do to Nana Akuffo-Addo. They are both in opposition, in case they need to be reminded of this simple fact.
At the just ended Presidential Debate, Nana Akuffo-Addo, the NPP Presidential Candidate, reduced his Foreign Policy to only the relationship between Ghana and Ivory Coast. It showed clearly that without the relationship between Ghana and Ivory Coast, Nana has no Foreign Policy. Once again, I think Ghanaians are looking for someone who is all-round good on foreign affairs. It looks like Nana didn’t learn anything when he was the Foreign Minister some few years ago. No wonder, he is not talking about that era in his campaign.
A closer look at the Presidency of Nana Akuffo-Addo would reveal that all he intends to deceive Ghanaians on (if possible) is Free Senior High School Education. I say that because these days, out of desperation and frustration, his campaign message has been reduced to only Free Senior High School Education.
President John Mahama during a campaign in the Eastern Region told his supporters that there are some people in Ghana; all they talk about is Free SHS. Even when you ask them how they will solve maternal mortality, they say Free SHS. A writer, Nana Ekua Tweneboah-Koduah, also wrote at Modern Ghana website on November 24, 2012 that when a voter wanted to know how Nana would solve the garbage situation in Ghana, Nana responded that he will provide Free Senior High School Education. She again wrote that another voter asked Nana how he was going to boost the economy when given the nod; his response was free Senior High School Education. Everything in Ghana now depends on free SHS.
The NPP pride themselves that during President Kuffour’s regime, when land and buildings were being sold left and right to themselves, Nana Akuffo-Addo didn’t accept any of those properties. They are therefore asking Ghanaians to vote for Nana because he is not corrupt. But has Nana come out to name even one member of his administration who is also not corrupt? Or is the uncorrupt Nana going to be the head of all the District Capitals, Regional Capitals, and also head all the Ministerial positions? Is Nana’s administration not going to be full of the same people who bought and sold properties under President Kuffour’s regime? So how would the NPP convince me that corruption under Nana’s administration would be something of the past?

My friends, I have given you a closer look at how the Presidency of Nana Akuffo-Addo would be like:

• Arrogance and shamelessly attack people who disagree with the administration;

• Foreign Policy reduced to the relationship between Ghana and Ivory Coast;

• Hoax Free Senior High School Education (Even if possible) at the expense of other sectors, and

• Corruption at the highest level because the same President Kuffour’s cronies would be at the head of affairs.

Judge for yourself if this is the administration you would want to run Ghana after December 7, 2012.
“The NPP left a big mess for the NDC. They think the NDC is not cleaning it fast enough and so they want to come back and continue with the same mess. Ghana is not going back again. Ghana is moving forward.”


Lawrence Appiah-Osei
NDC USA Finance Secretary
Appiah65@Hotmail.com