I am a Citizen.
I rise to ask what is it about the government of my respected Retired and Tired President Billy Akufo-Addo that everybody seems to associate it with crime and corruption.
I wonder.
Akufo-Addo claimed to have a dream worth dreaming and actualising, of creating a country which is self-sufficient and prosperous; and to have a nation which this current generation and those unborn will be proud of.
His dream of a Ghana Beyond Aid was fundamentally to take the country beyond the frameworks of international donors for its development decisions.
As Citizens, they had the understanding he could achieve his dream by rallying unity, respect and collaboration of all Ghanaians for national development.
And the Citizens looked up to him with hope that he would create a truly unified citizenry with a common set of national development objectives and a well-honed way to achieve them.
Even as he delivered his plagiarized speech at his inauguration as their respected President on 7th January, 2017, the Citizens rallied behind him with hope in him as their latest ultimate Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, and Light in the Darkness
In Opposition, Nana Akufo-Addo and his dear wife, Rebecca Carboo Opertoto, asked the Electorates to try him and see the peace, progress and prosperity he would bring to Ghana.
The Citizens believed in him because he promised as their respected President to:
Live Pure
Speak True
Right Wrong
Follow the Constitution
Indeed, when he addressed a grand durbar of Chiefs of the Upper East Region at Bolgatanga on 4th October, 2017, he reiterated an assurance to the Citizens that he will not steal their money, wealth and resources.
He said eloquently that, “we are going to ensure that all the money that is mobilized by government is spent in dealing with the issues that concern our people, and they do not find their way into my pocket or the pocket of my Ministers. We are not going to allow that to happen.”
In spite of these beatitudes and assurances, it is such a dramatic irony that as elections approach in December, 2020, every one seems to be associating President Akufo-Addo’s name and his government with crime, rough house tactics, and brazen and wanton corruption of his relatives, friends, appointees, and so on.
Akufo-Addo’s name and image are taking such unprecedented negative heat, reminiscent of the days of Kaneshie market women hooting at Prime Minister Busia, in the morning and evening as his convoy drove between his Odorkor residence and his official place of work.
Why, Mr. President? Why?
They say in Kyebi your ancestral home that they never have had a son of the soil of Akyem Abuakwa Susubiribi who has sullied his name and that of his family like you have done.
Akyem Sakawa Boys,” given to illustrious Akyems by a Fafra boy, of all people, was too much for Akyems to bear. No wonder, my respected Retired and Tired President Billy Akufo-Addo took umbrage and reported to God and his Holy temporal representatives on earth, the distasteful characterization of some Akyems in government as “Akyem Sakawa boys.” Aaah!!
They say in Kyebi that no one has debased the value and image of Akyems like Akufo- Addo has done since the reigns of Akyem Abuakwa Kings Ba Kwante, Owusu Akyem Tenten, Pobi Asomaning, Twum Ampofo, Obirikorang Aboree, Amoako Atta and Kuntunkununku.
Satchel Paige, the legendary American major league pitcher, was famous for cautionary maxims.
He urged people to shun running at all times, to “go very light on the vices, and “to avoid fried meats, which angry up the blood.”
It is said every one smiles at this Satchel tip: “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”
Respectfully, Satchel had it slightly wrong when his tip is applied to President Akufo-Addo and his Akyem Sakawa boys.
My respected Retired and Tired President Billy Akufo-Addo can find that the more he looks back at the exploits of his illustrious progenitors in Ghanaian politics and national life, the smarter he could and should have been at his present station in life as President of the Republic of Ghana.
Can any student of history imagine the corpus of political and public service knowledge and experience available to Nana Akufo-Addo from the
following Statesmen and Stateswomen who were/are his forebears?:
Edward Akufo-Addo… President of Ghana.
Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta… Minister of Justice, Local Government, Communication, and Speaker of Parliament.
Akwasi Andrews Jones Amoako Atta Ofori-Atta… Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
William Ofori- Atta… Minister of Education, Foreign Affairs.
Susan Ofori Atta… First female doctor of the Gold Coast.
Adeline Sylvia Eugenia Ama Yeboakua Ofori-Atta… First Lady, Founder of the Law Wives Association and the Kotoka Trust Fund and Abontendomhemaa of Kyebi.
Historical records attest that throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Nana Akufo-Addo’s mother, Adeline, was known for her beauty and elegance
Many ladies in those days wore hats and gloves, and dresses for all social functions. Adeline was famous for her hats and gloves which she ordered from John Boyd in London and Christian Dior in Paris.
Her ambiance at the time was beautifully suited to her life as the wife of a famous politician, a leading barrister, a Supreme Court judge, Chief Justice and finally President of the Republic.
Respectfully, is there any public mention of crime and corruption in the history of Nana Addo’s mother, Adeline?
So, when did the rain start beating my respected Retired and Tired President Billy Akufo-Addo and his much maligned Akyem Sakawa boys?
What is it about your government that everybody associates it with corruption?
Now the day is over,
Night is falling nigh;
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky…
Owula Mangortey
Odumase-Dodowa
20th September, 2020