I am not author of controversial feature

Nana Ato Dadzie, Chief of Staff in the Rawlings regime has denied ever writing the controversial feature about why the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) should blunt the campaign strategies of Nana Akufo Addo and his New Patriotic Party (NPP), or prepare to go back into opposition, which appeared in Friday's issue of the newspaper.

The article, under the title 'We blunt the NPP or we are in trouble', raised the political temperature as radio and television pundits dissected its likely negative impact on the 2012 Presidential and Legislative elections.

On one private radio station in Accra at the weekend, a former Member of Parliament was said to have exchanged words with the former Chief of Staff over the matter.

The feature said Nana Addo's Listening Campaign in the regions was proving so effective that the only means of stopping the NPP from winning the 2012 Presidential and Legislative elections was to indulge in dirty tactics, such as organising people to hoot at the NPP presidential candidate while on the campaign trail.

'Politics', wrote the author, 'require strategies, and top among these, is the ability to neutralise and put your opponent on the defensive at all times. If done well, at least two benefits accrue.

The first is that you make your opponent waste valuable resources and dissipate his time and energy on nothing but frustration. The second is that you are quick to spot the traps your opponent set for you.'

He went on to suggest that Nana Akufo-Addo's Listening Campaign in the regions was proving such a success that the National Democratic Congress ought to strategise to blunt its effect on the body politic.

'One of the foremost strategies the NDC should employ just after the Sunyani national congress is to go after Akufo-Addo and make useless his so-called Listening Campaign,' the author, who signed simply as Ato Dadzie, wrote.

'In fact, there are so many ways to bring down this Akufo-Addo's campaign that I do not care naming one of the tactics that could be employed. Besides, whether the NPP reads this piece or not, I trust the NDC to find every way possible to make waste this so-called Listening Campaign.'

In the words of the author, 'one of the easiest tactics is hooting, and what would be so embarrassing than Akufo-Addo to be hooted at in public.'

Mr. Ato Dadzie, the writer of the article, goes on to advice that any form of hooting should be done in anonymity, to create the impression that the party had no hand in it.

He goes on to list some of the concerns articulated by the party in power, including the three and half percentage shares owned by the EO Group, and what the NDC big-shots generally describe as property-grabbing scheme of the NPP in power, as some of the inimical deeds for which the NPP should never be returned to power.

The author goes on to make several wild claims, emphatically stating that the NPP had been encouraging population growth in the party's strongholds, apparently to tilt the balance of power in the party's favour.

'Can you believe the NPP has been indirectly encouraging population growth in their strongholds to enable them win power easily in future? he poses.

The author claims that the party in power has not got much to present to the electorate. In his own words, the NDC had not performed, and should use tactics other than the conventional to win the 2012 Presidential and Legislative elections.

'It has been well beaten and neutralised by its main opponent – the NPP. Our performance, or honestly, lack thereof, further presents a very bleak election prospect for 2012.'

He then goes on to make his final submission. 'This lukewarm attitude by the NDC should therefore be corrected as election 2012 looms, and it should start with the destabilisation of this Akufo-Addo's latest listening or hearing, or whatever he chooses to call it campaign strategy.'

Meanwhile, the author has pasted an apology on the Peace FM On-Line website, apologising for whatever embarrassment the article might have caused the former Chief of Staff.

'Dear Nana Ato Dadzie, I want to take this opportunity to say I am sorry for any inconvenience caused you. First, I want to set the records straight that never ever did I have in mind of impersonating you or Ato Kwamena Dadzie of JOY FM, like most readers are saying.'

The Chronicle would like to render its sincerest apology to Nana Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff, now a private legal practitioner, for linking his honourable name to the article. It was purely the work of the printer's devil.