Columnist: Francis Baffoe

He has been called a thief, criminal, gyimi-gyimi what have you. But this so called “Giant’ has kept his cool. He would not fight back. Looking at it introspectively, the ex-president carries the ruling party in his hands like a freshly laid egg. All he has to do is to smash it to the ground. I am steering clear of accusing any tribe but who the cap fits let them wear it- with all due apologies to the late Bob Marley.

Here is Kuffour’s first nuclear option that he failed to capitalize on. My hero President Obama was in Ghana to lecture on democracy in black Africa after his famous Cairo speech which brought about democratic changes in Lebanon and permitted even Iranians to rise up against the mullahs and Ayatollahs in the last elections.

The ex-president could have gone AWOL during Obama’s visit. I could imagine Obama whispering to the sitting president “where is John Kuffour? You know my whole speech is based on democracy, reconciliation, peace etc in Africa, especially on Ghana’s recent “successful” election. Without Kuffour, I have to re-write my speech”.

Whatever answer President Obama was going to get from President Mills could be your guess. The day after Obama’s departure ex-president Kuffour could have delivered a speech somewhere in Accra. You see how this action on Kuffour’s part could have brought discredit to the ruling party, throughout black Africa. The Nigerian press especially would have had a field’s day, making all kinds of jokes about the ruling party. Advantage Kuffour.

Nuclear option #2. Let’s go back to the ‘50’s Civil Rights Movement in America. There was a seamstress named Rosa Parks who had boarded a bus after a hard day’s work. In those days, Negroes had to sit at the back of the bus. She found an empty seat in front and took it. Later a white came demanding the seat. She refused to give up was arrested and this started the Civil Rights Movement with a bus boycott and then uprising all over the United States.

When ex-president Kuffour was kicked out of the bungalow in Accra, he could have used that as a rallying point for Akan sovereignty and the building of an Akan capital. Such a prominent person, made homeless because of your ethnicity and could not capitalize on it. Let me tell you something. The First World War started because an European king was assassinated in Sarajevo, in the former Yugoslavia. Millions of Europeans perished.

By Akan capital I mean appropriated land for about a million inhabitants, that is equidistant or close from the four regional capitals Kumasi, Sunyani, Koforidua and Takoradi. Based on past election results and voting records, parts of Central region which have shown loyalty to the Akan cause could be carved out to join. This eviction was huge for Kuffour but he failed to detonate the bomb.

Nuclear option #3 In the light of Otumfuo’s suggestion of a coming mayhem as a result of tribal politics, we still have not seen mass protests in the streets to justify this allegation. If it is true, then people should make some noise, take to the streets, create the “atmosphere” for coming trouble. There are dispositions available like YouTube, Twittering, opposition press etc.

The ex-president could lead a delegation of victims to European capitals and the United Nations to explain the failure of “demo-crazy’’ in Ghana, Akans the majority group in the country, producing 80% of resources for export, being ruled by people of different ethnicity, purging and loss of jobs because of Akan ethnicity which are all signs of smoke before fire. So much for President Obama’s Accra speech for black democracy ! Advantage Kuffour

Nuclear option #4 Since Akans are excluded from government and the machinery is being set in motion to rig elections in 2012, the opposition party could organize foot soldiers throughout the Akan regions to make the electorate boycott the next elections.

In his famous speech “The Ballot or the Bullet”, Malcolm X advocated Voting Rights for Negroes. In Africa, the norm is to remove governments from power with bullets but I think the best coup d’etat is to stay away from the ballot box, if government is corrupt. If Akans don’t participate in the elections, then the existing government becomes illegal. They have mandate to rule until 2012. Ghana then becomes like Somalia with no ruling government. This government is only as good and valid as Akans permit. Just boycott the next election and they are finished. This is a no- brainer. Advantage Kuffour and all Akans.

+1 As a Fante, the worst thing President Mills could do is to ask the Army to open fire on Akans. This is a no, no. Thanks to the internet it will bring world-wide attention to the armless Akans and pave the way for tens and thousands of mercenaries to come from all over the world to form a ragtag army fighting for Akan independence. Even non-Akans will participate and they will be granted Akan citizenship. Mr Mills, think about it, where will you, your family and people from your region go ? The rest of the world will never forgive you. The Cairo speech is bringing reforms in the Arab world. Will the Accra Speech turn into bloodshed? The world is watching, waiting to make comparisons.

Francis Baffoe, California Moniker: Nom de plume frap74x@mailcity.com