Sensational headlines and explosive words sell newspapers. They enable the churning of rumors based on misleading stories that are concocted aimed at marring the integrity of opponents. Such is the work of the Enquirer as found on the cover of its Friday June 6th edition with the heading: “Akufo-Addo Busted in America”
The Enquirer reported that the Ghana Embassy provided official cars for the use of Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his team in Washington DC on June 4th 2008 and presumably this is wrong because Nana Akufo-Addo is the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party.
It is not coincidental that the Enquirer should be impish in their reporting on no other day than June 4th. Mischief dies hard. The Enquirer forgot to add that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is still the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South and so are Honorable Yaw Osafo-Maafo (Akim Oda) and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku (Ofinso North), all of whom were accompanying Nana Addo to present Ghana to prospective business interests and meet US Congressmen in their capacities as representatives of the Ghana Government. Of course the Ghana Mission should provide them with transportation at a minimum to such meetings. How does the Enquirer think that Ghana got the $547 million MCC grant from the US if such high level representatives of our government do not take time from other activities to see US Officials?
The Enquirer also failed to report that Hon. Nana Akufo-Addo in his capacity as Member of Parliament gave a presentation as a panelist on the topic: “Nexus between Democratic Governance and Economic Progress- The Ghanaian Experience” organized by the Center for Strategic International Studies in Washington DC. These very important discussions sell Ghana’s maturing democracy and make our country a palatable destination for investors; and yes all the Members of Parliament were transported there in official vehicles. Who else should do it? When the dividends come, don’t all Ghanaians enjoy the benefits?
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei has this to say: “It is unfortunate that routine facts should be distorted to cause harm when all news agencies know that any official representing Ghana can request transportation and other courtesies when in the US capital on official duties without regard to party affiliation”
We know that the CPP Presidential Candidate, Dr. Kwasi Nduom in his capacity as a sitting Member of Parliament was extended transportation facilities while in Washington DC on official business in early May 2008.
Yes Nana Akufo-Addo is principally in the United States to meet Ghanaians to introduce himself as the 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate. This is his main objective and he should be commended for making time to promote Ghana’s interests and situate the country for transparent business opportunities much to the chagrin of his own NPP-USA members who felt that he should devote his whole attention to them. The Chairman of NPP-USA, Mr. Kofi A. Boateng, can state categorically that the transportation to 100% of all community events was provided by NPP-USA members and volunteers.
The Enquirer reported that the Whitaker Group hosted a fundraising luncheon for Nana Akufo Addo where participants paid $45 a person and most of the attendees were not Ghanaians. Therefore their contributions violated Ghana’s political contribution laws.
It is laughable that Nana Akufo Addo would travel all the way from Ghana accompanied by others to attend a $45 per person fundraiser where less than 50 people would attend. The gasoline from their homes to the airport in Accra alone would cost more than the total proceeds from such an event. The simple facts are: first- the subject was promoting Ghana’s democracy and economic development; secondly- no one charged any entry fee and; thirdly – the Whitaker Group has not asked for or given a red cent to NPP-USA either to pay for or remit as proceeds. The entire story about fundraiser and violation of laws are hogwash. The Enquirer is trying to force a comparison to the sad tale of the Rawlings in Houston last year. It does not fit because absolutely no money changed hands at the event the Enquirer reports and shows pictures of. It was free. There was no objective of fundraising at the Park Hyatt Hotel on June 4th.
Incidentally, long before the arrival of Nana Akufo-Addo to the US on May 31, 2008, Mr. Kofi A. Boateng had a conversation with Rosa Whitaker, principal of the Whitaker Group to clarify their role. The Chairman did not solicit any money and Rosa made it clear that the Whitaker Group never conducts fund-raisers for foreign political candidates, and that any involvement of the Whitaker Group on the Nana Akufo-Addo’s program would be economic development oriented and not political. As far as we know, she has kept to her word so please Enquirer and other Ghanaian media of ill-will, do not impugn the integrity of Rosa Whitaker, Nana Akufo-Addo, Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei and NPP-USA by simply manufacturing stories based on pictures about which you do not know the content. Let us all focus on building Ghana for the benefit of all and appreciate the impartial good efforts of others towards this goal.
Prince Osei-Bonsu- PRO NPP-USA
Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.
