I would like to use my position as the unelected and self appointed Special Aide to the immediate flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to give a fitting response to the falsehood and distortion of facts by one Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, a member of the NPP.

I have known Mr. Opoku Agyemang as an NPP member and a regular contributor of articles on various websites. However his write-ups these days appear to be negative and targeted at Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. The style and agenda he has chosen is dangerous and inimical to the fortunes of the party.

Opoku Agyemang as an individual is entitled to his own opinion. However, it is an acknowledged fact that one’s actions and opinions should not be at variance with the general principle of the majority.

I, the self appointed Special Aide to Nana Akufo feel strongly that I will be doing the NPP a colossal damage if Opoku Agyemang’s write ups are allowed to go unchallenged. It is on that premise that I write this fitting response to defuse any tension the said articles might have generated.

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang is towing a similar track embarked upon by the self styled Nana Kofi Amankwaa of New York who used to write articles with the sole purpose of shooting down the positive credentials of Nana Akufo Addo. So damning and vicious were his attacks that one wondered if he was indeed a genuine member of the Party. His write ups could mostly be found on Ghana Web.
Where is this phantom writer? Surprisingly, the so-called Nana Kofi Amankwaa of New York suddenly disappeared from the scene as soon as Nana won the 2010 NPP Presidential Primaries. The question at the lips of every Ghanaian now is: “Where is Nana Kofi Amankwaa of New York”?
Nana’s two antagonists share a common identity by virtue of their strong hatred for him. But whereas Katakyie Opoku Agyemang really exists, Kofi Amankwaa of New York appears to have been a phantom writer masquerading as a keen supporter of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.
But as I always say in my write ups, in our desperate attempts to win the Golden Fleece, we must not sidetrack the moral aspects that go with it. We as true democrats owe the public just that.
Permit me, dear reader, to use two of such negative write ups to buttress my point. These are “A personal Letter to Nana Akufo Addo” and “Akufo-Addo’s ‘Weaknesses’ – a Setback for the NPP in 2016”.
Sarcasm and innuendos: Opoku Agyemang started by espousing the great credentials of our beautiful bride. Yes, Nana has this, Nana had that – all aimed at suggesting that Nana had everything working for him. But reading between the lines, the sarcasm is not lost on the avid reader. Then comes the anti-climax – “in other words, the Ghanaian electorates have sent a clear message that Nana Akufo Addo is not their preferred candidate. The irony here is not lost on die hard supporters of the party.
His Excellency Kufuor and other NPP stalwarts campaigned for Nana: Yes, it is true Kufuor and others campaigned for Nana and the NPP. But Katakyie Opoku Agyeman deliberately omitted to tell us that Akufo Addo had also campaigned vigorously for Kufuor after the former had lost the party’s Presidential Primaries to the latter who went on to eventually become President of the country.
Katakyie needs a bit of education here: But I must mention the fact that Kufuor, while he was President nominated the Presidential Candidate of the NDC, late Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills for the highest honours of the land. This was the greatest anti party activity in the country. In his desperate attempts to send Nana Akufo Addo to the cleanest, Katakyie deliberately chose not to mention that fact.
The removal of Peter Ala Adjetey as Speaker: Katakyie also forgot to state that the removal of Peter Ala Adjetey as Speaker of Parliament affected Nana negatively. The party lost most of our seats in the Greater Accra Region as a result of that unpresidential act by Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Another Unpresidential Act: One should not overlook the fact that ex-President Kufuor penchant for increasing petroleum prices affected the fortunes of the party negatively. I admonished the President to tread cautiously on the fuel price issue in an election year and asked what would be his gain if he stashed away all the money accruing from the increase only for the NDC to come and spend the money without acknowledging his contributions and handling of the economy.
Let the truth be told: In the run up to the Presidential Run Off, I was shocked to hear the then Minister of Defence, Honourable Albert Ken Dapaah saying that he encountered many macho men in his constituency. He went on to state that mere seeing those macho men would put the fear of God in you. And that statement was coming from the then Minister of Defence!
Opoku Agyemang’s comments on Nana’s age: Yes, Nana would be campaigning across the length and breadth of the country. What’s wrong with that? How old was Mills when he died? How old was the MP of my home constituency, Atiwa when he died? Akwasi Ankamah was less than sixty two years old when he succumbed to the cruel fate of death. So, there is no truth in the saying that older people die earlier than younger ones. President Ronald Reagan was in his Eighties when he sent U.S. Soldiers to Panama to arrest their Head of State, General Manuel Noriega and extradite him to the U S for trial.
The Politburo of the Soviet Union: It is an acknowledged fact that decisions taken by members of the Soviet’s Politburo had lasting effects on the entire world. And the Politburo was made up of members whose ages ranged from the Seventies and the Eighties. How old was Nelson Mandela when he became President of South Africa? And he is acknowledged as one of the best leaders the world has ever had.
Pope John Paul 11: He was one of the few people whose tenure as Pope impacted positively in the entire universe. And how old was he? In his eighties!!
General Yakubu Gowon and The Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu: It appears as if Katakyie Opoku Agyemang has forgotten so soon how the two belligerents, because of their lust for power plunged their country, Nigeria into an unwarranted Civil War for more than three years. And how old were they? In their forties or less than that!! Do we need another Rehoboam at this time of our history? Do not forget the fate that befell the Israelites as a result of rash decisions taken by Rehoboam.
If Nana Akufo Addo feels he can cope with the rigours of electioneering campaigns and is given a clean bill of health, I see nothing wrong with that. He is a very active person with all his senses intact. I do not think Nana will go against the dictates of nature by embarking on a journey which he himself knows very well that he cannot complete it.
Free SHS Policy: Katakyie asked rhetorically what would be Nana Akufo Addo’s message if Mahama succeeds in giving the Ghanaian child progressive free education. Here, Opoku Agyemang exposed his ignorance by not analyzing the reasons why Nana went on that tangent. Akufo Addo’s Free SHS Policy was and is not a political gimmick to win power at the centre. It is a well-thought out policy to ensure that the Ghanaian child is given an opportunity to exhibit his or her innate ability to enable him her rub shoulders with his or her counterparts elsewhere.
The fact that Akufo Addo’s initiative has compelled the ’tortoise’ to come out of its shell to acknowledge its positive aspects which can be implemented is a plus for the originator and initiator of the idea. This has revealed that Nana Akufo Addo, in spite of his age has the alertness of mind to come out with such a laudable and innovative idea which has transformed the political landscape into a vibrant one. The originator, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has by that singular idea become the cynosure of all eyes in the West African sub region.
The dwindling votes of Nana Akufo Addo: The writer, Katakyie Opoku Agyemang accuses Nana of dwindling votes, but has forgotten to mention that his idol and mentor, Allan Kwadwo Kyerematen also has his votes dwindling abysmally – the same crime he accuses Nana of. Allan’s popularity rate in the NPP has been on the downward trend from about 34% to just around 23%.
He again accuses Nana of not being able to win his home region convincingly. The Akan Regions are not four but five – Eastern, Western, Central, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti. And it is not as if our performance in the other five regions has been almost nil. The Volta Region is the only region where we have not been able to make any headway. Certain factors have contributed to our not winning those regions.
Listen to the man who calls himself an NPP member: “Your close associates have the wrong belief that Professor Mills won the Presidency on his third attempt so you can do it, forgetting that: ‘Obirekuo kra nko, na odabo nso dee nko’ “. By this proverb, he has dismissed Nana’s chances in the 2016 Elections. So if it happens that Nana wins the NPP Primaries, and there is every indication that he will win, the conclusion will be that Nana had lost the election already. What an absurd statement to make! But let me assure you, Katakyie Opoku Agyeman that, we, the loyal supporters of the NPP will prove to you and your doom mongers that there is power in our determination to succeed in spite of all odds put out in tracks by detractors like you. Yes, this much we pledge!
Confused Katakyie: Your statement that “it would be politically advantageous for the NPP to lose Election 2016 under a new candidate than under a 72 year old Nana Akufo Addo” is retrogressive, capricious and whimsical”. Why think of defeat when the battle is yet to be fought”? And you call yourself a member of the NPP! I don’t blame you!! I blame those who have given you the opportunity to make such cacophonous noise. And if I may ask, what advantage or disadvantage will accrue to the party if we lose Election 2016 under Nana Akufo Addo or a new candidate? If you believe we are going to lose election 2016, why then are you rooting for Allan Kyerematen to become our party’s candidate?
Nana’s neutrality: Katakyie Opoku Agyemang stated that Nana was instrumental in the list of candidates sent to delegates in Tamale. Again, you stated that Nana came down to the country when defeat was staring at his anointed ones like Fred Oware, Sir John and Tina Mensah.
This is a blatant lie. Nana Akomea is a staunch supporter of Nana Akufo Addo, yet he publicly rooted for Paul Afoko as Chairman during the Primaries. Dr Amoako Tuffuor is another staunch supporter of Nana Akufo Addo, but he was for Steve I, the self appointed Special Aide of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, shot down the plumage and Secretarial ambition of Sir John, and rooted for Kwabena Agyapong as General Secretary. I defended Otiko Djaba strongly against the negative and divisive campaign tactics enacted against her by Tina Mensah. Yet, I am a staunch believer in Nana Akufo Addo’s campaign to become President. I am happy the two candidates, Kwabena Agyapong and Otiko Djaba won. My list of NPP’S Dream Team was published before the NPP Primaries and I had 7 out of 10 elective positions.
The Fear of Delegates is the beginning of wisdom: This is true. Nana’s nemesis stated that it is only a fool who doesn’t change his mind. This is also partially true. But how does one change his/her mind? One is only after new facts have emerged. But what are the new facts which will make delegates dump a Boeing 707 plane for a one engine jet plane! But what are the facts which will make delegates dump a well tried and tested politician for someone who has never won an election all the days of his life? Would someone be bold enough to give me at least one good reason why genuine party menber would dump a well-marketed commodity for what our ladies would term a “dabi dabi a ebeye yiye?
It has never happened before in history and never will it be in our time! Katakyie Opoku Agyemang might have seen the light now. But was he blind in both 2008 and 2012? What he is saying here is that he voted for the NPP in both Presidential Elections but in 2016, because he has seen the light and been christened “shoot down Akufo Addo’s ambition” he will vote for change. He can jump ship if he wants to. It is his choice. Is Katakyie Opoku Agyemang suggesting that if Nana Akufo Addo wins the NPP Presidential Primaries, Ghanaians, including party men and women should dump him and vote for the NDC’s candidate?
Wrong and illogical analysis: Katakyie’s hatred for the truth which is exemplified by Nana’s strong credentials has made him come to the erroneous conclusion that Nana’s attempt to become the Flag bearer of the Party will bring division to the NPP we all cherish very much. Since majority of Ghanaians are yearning for Nana’s Presidency, why can’t Katakyie offer the same advice to his mentor, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to shelve his presidential ambition for some time, at least for now?
Distortion of Facts: Let me state here for the avoidance of doubt that William Ofori Atta aka Paa Willie never stabbed Victor Owusu in the back. It is also not true that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo was a member of the United National Convention (UNC). Nana’s nemesis, Katakyie Opoku Agyemang made a wrong historical allusion by referring to the issue involving Richard Olele Kingston. But I beg to differ. He stated Olele has had two World Cup appearances and so had to be axed from the team. His reasoning is faulty. If we were to go by that faulty logic, then players like Asamoah Djan and Sulley Muntari ought to have been axed from the team. Whether Olele Kingston was there with the 12 Disciples when Jesus had the Last Super is not relevant here. Let me take you back to the late 80’s when the Super Eagles of Nigeria were going to Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations. Newly appointed Technical Adviser, Clemence Westerhoff left behind the country’s safest hands, Peter Rufai at the airport because the latter did not report for campaign/training. He took along with him David Ngodigha and Alloy Agu as goal keepers. Ngodigha, the first choice goal keeper got injured and was replaced by Alloy Agu. Six years later, Peter Rufai resurrected from the dead and reclaimed his position as Nigeria’s Best Goal Keeper.
How could you, Katakyie Opoku Agyemang suggest to Nana to shelve his presidential ambition for Alan Kyerematen who had refused to be part of Election 201W Campaign Team because President Mahama and the NDC deceived him into believing that they would lobby for him to occupy the top position in the World Trade Organization - a promise they had not meant to keep right from the beginning?
President Rawlings lobbied Presidents and other Heads of State for Dr Kofi Annan to become Secretary General of the United Nations. President Kufuor followed suit and Dr Ibn Chambers was elected Secretary General of ECOWAS. Whatever happened to the Mills/Mahama’s dalliance with Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen was bound to fail because right from the beginning, both Presidents were not prepared to lobby any of their counterparts. It was a political gimmick to make Alan become a stranger in the NPP Campaign team. This is a great lesson to people like Katakyie Opoku Agyemang and his think-alike.
United National Convention/People’s Popular Party imbroglio: Truth can never to hidden for long. Listen to the voice of conscience and truth because I was there right from the beginning. When the ban on politics was lifted, a delegation from the NPP went to see William Ofori Atta aka Paa Willie who told them that he had lost interest in politics. The PFP was therefore shocked when it learnt of his association with the United National Convention.
The UNC was an entity on its own: It was an amalgamation of forces from different political groups. It is true that majority of its members came from the defunct Progress Party, but it is equally true that others also came from Gbedemah’s National Alliance of Liberals (NAL). Samuel Okudzeto was an MP on the ticket of NAL. He was asked by the Speaker of Parliament to withdraw and apologize for a remark which was deemed inappropriate. He retorted: “Mr. Speaker, I will not withdraw”, whereupon the Speaker ordered the Sergeant-at-arms to walk him out of the Chambers.
Obed Asamoah, a staunch member of NAL and former MP for Biakoye constituency was about to be sentenced by the courts for ”embezzling” money meant for farmers and residents of Akosombo and its environs who had been displaced when the Akosombo Dam was being constructed. Dr. G. K. Agama was also a former MP on the ticket of NAL during the Second Republic. How could you classify them as members of the Progress Party?
Mr. Harry Sawyer was the only independent candidate who won a seat to represent Osu Klottey Constituency in Parliament during the Second Republic. He was a member of the UNC.
The elected MP in my home constituency, Kwabeng, the late Lawyer Barnes was never a member of the Progress Party. He had been practicing his “trade” outside the country. When he returned to the country, the first political party he turned to was the People’s National Party (PNP). A tour of the constituency revealed that the PNP did not enjoy any massive support in the area, but Barnes stuck to his guns. His senior brother, another lawyer called Ofosu Asante then decided he would contest against him if his junior brother insisted on contesting on the ticket of the PNP. And that was how and why Lawyer Barnes contested and won the 1979 Parliamentary Election on the ticket of the UNC.
Colonel Minyilla joined the UNC and became one of its top leaders. He was not affiliated to any political party before the advent of the Third Republic. He had been a hard working Minister under both Acheampong and Akufo’s NRC, SMC1 AND SMC2 regimes.
So, you see, all those feeding us with false history about how Paa Willie and Akufo Addo stabbed Victor Owusu in the back by breaking away from the PFP to form the UNC are mischief makers who are hell-bound to put a halt to the fast moving vehicle of Nana Addo. The name Opoku Agyeman easily comes to mind. They have twisted facts to suit their own arrogant ego and must be stopped in their tracks.
Let the real truth be told: I wish to reiterate the fact that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo had never been part of the UNC as is being alleged by mischief maker Opoku Agyeman. So was his cousin, Dr. Jones Ofori Atta, former MP for Begoro. And if Katakyie Opoku Agyeman does not have any mind of mischief, he should tell us if Victor Owusu and J. H. Mensah originally belonged to the UP tradition?
The truth is that the UNC had never been part of the UP tradition. Do we say that because Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Baba Jamal, Brig Gen Nunoo Mensah, Professor Wayo Seini and others left the New Patriotic Party to join the NDC, it can be concluded that the NDC broke away from the Progress Party?
Charisma: Katakyie Opoku Agyemang’s mischief knows no bound. He says if voters were to make a choice between Nana and his god-father, they would choose Alan because of his beauty. What is beauty anyway? Does it depend on one’s height, size colour or other qualities? Height has got nothing to do with intelligence. If we were to talk of size, then Chiluba wouldn’t have been elected President of Zambia. If were to use Katakyie’s criteria of determining beauty, then Obasanjo wouldn’t have been elected President of Nigeria, (the Giant of Africa) on account of his numerous tribal marks on his face.
Beauty depends on the qualities of one’s character. There are people with positive aura. People from various walks of life, young and old, rich and poor gravitate towards such people. Nana has such positive aura, and to me that is much more important than any other thing in life.
And if Katakyie Opoku Agyeman wants to know what beauty entails, I dare him to ask his preferred candidate, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to take a popularity walk along the principal streets of the various Regional Capitals and other cities with the man Ghanaians are all yearning for to be their President, the David God wants to use to administer the affairs of the country because he is displeased with the Saul of our time (President Mahama). That man is the modern day Joshua, the light in the sea of darkness, and the Mikhail Gorbachev of our time. I speak of no other person but Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.

Daniel Danquah Damptey (Damptey_daniel@yahoo.com) 0243715297.