By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Folks, by now, you must have read the opinion piece written by Dr. Arthur Kennedy in which he minced no word by saying a lot to suggest that the rumpus in the NPP can be traced to the wiliness with which the Akufo-Addo camp is doing politics within the NPP.
(See: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=322289 and the rejoinder from the Akufo-Addo camp at http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=322295).
In fact, Dr. Kennedy blamed Akufo-Addo as the main brain behind all the hooliganism and wondered how such a person can be entrusted with the responsibility of managing Ghana's affairs. He sang the very song that I have been singing all this while, especially in questioning Akufo-Addo's leadership skills if he can't bring his influence to bear positively on the NPP's internal politics to solve problems. Indeed, Akufo-Addo is the main problem for the NPP, apparently because of his insistence on going again to the general elections, mobilizing pliant forces within the party, and using them to intimidate his challengers and their followers.
What we have noticed so far is that he is more interested in bulldozing his way through to be blessed as the party's flagbearer for Election 2016 than doing all in his power to build the NPP. What has been going on---and will continue to go on henceforth---will not help his cause, especially if nerves remain taut and muscles flexed all over the place.
While he issues belated and half-hearted statements regarding the rumpus, he opens himself up for further questioning. What will he gain if he wins the flagbearer position but loses the backing of the very people now being pushed and shoved around?
In tone and intent, Dr. Kennedy's opinion piece is not really borne out of malice, contrary to what the statement from the Akufo-Addo camp has characterized it. And their rejoinder is loaded with insults and damaging insinuations to create the impression that Dr. Kennedy is an enemy to be mowed down. After mowing down critics like him, I wonder how Akufo-Addo can reach out to them at election time. They are really not acquitting themselves as experienced politicians.
After squandering all the opportunities to unite and build the party for Election 2016, I hope they will not blame the Electoral Commission when they lose again. Dr. Kennedy may as well be girding his loins to begin gathering his thoughts together to write volume two of his Chasing the Elephant into the Bush for them. Hard-headedness in politics leads to electoral loss and extreme frustration!
I shall return…
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