NDC In Sad Crisis (3) Martin Amidu, Economic, And Social Factors

Martin Amidu

I have described the critical situation in which the NDC finds itself as sad- sad in point of the unexpectedness of some harrowing circumstances or factors which seem to have suddenly erupted to slap that party left and right to badly dent its image, with the view to partially predisposing it to lose the upcoming December 7 elections. Some circumstances seem to have intentionally conspired against President Mills to drown him in some electoral cesspool before the elections proper, thus making him unable to offer a stiff challenge to his topmost competing candidate, Akufo Addo.

Both topmost candidates, President Atta Mills and Akufo Addo are, in technical terms, longstanding friends, having been both classmates at the University of Ghana where they both played the University XI team, and later classmates at the erstwhile Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute, where I myself was studying even though in a different class (doing a degree course). In this light, I was their college-mate, and thus I am very much interested in their upcoming political competition in which either of them shall be elected as the nation's President. A stiff challenge is assumedly expected, therefore where certain circumstances are pouncing up to prejudice the fall of either of them, in this case, candidate Atta Mills, it is my duty, as an interested referee or umpire, to blow the whistle and call for a fair deal, a fair electoral competition between the two former classmates.

As things stand now, some unholy circumstances seem to have given candidate Akufo Addo a step ahead of Atta Mills, even though both of them have not equally begun their electioneering campaign formally. Atta Mills is expected to begin his electioneering campaign any time from now, and that will make my umpireship get cracking, rather objectively. In the 2008 elections, I was on the side of comrade Akufo Addo, simply because I was thinking that Comrade Atta Mills was an extension of Rawlings whose abnormal rulership was disliked, yes, hated. But I made a wrong assumption; and President Atta Mills has proven to be his own man, drawing the utmost respect of most of us former Ideologicals.  This time, I am going to be a good umpire, praising either of them where praise is due and criticising either of them where criticism is due.  I equally love both of them, and hope to analyse their speeches and actions with a comradely spirit, so to encourage them to reach a fair deal in the elections.

MARTIN AMIDU
One circumstance that tends to brew more tension in the NDC to a critical point is former Attorney General Martin Amidu's bid to disclose any negative deals concerning Alfred Agbesi Woyome's alleged 'ignominious' or shocking defrauding of the state to the tune of GH¢51.28million 'by false pretences'.  Since the matter is in the court, one needs not discuss the nitty-gritty of it.  But it is Martin Amidu's contention that some ministers and high officials of the NDC are involved in the reception and sharing of the money, even though Woyome is said to have solely clamoured for it, which is said to be a 'judgment debt'. 

Martin Amidu, who was an Attorney General (after the exit of the former Attorney General Betty Mould Iddrisu), claims that his close study of the Woyome affair reveals that it was a well-planned conspiracy of certain NDC officials to defraud the state and therefore those officials must also be named and charged before the court, so that the money is paid to the state. Martin Amidu promises to reveal those names, and other secrets in connection with the Woyome affair. These revelations are casting a slur on the image of the NDC, and I think the NDC leaders should do something about these disclosures.

Fact is, since Martin Amidu was handling the Woyome affair, his disclosures cannot be ignored by the Castle, because he seems to know the case inside out, and thus people tend to believe all that he is writing in the papers.  Amidu's disclosures are, according to him, prompted by some publications in some NDC newspaper which are intentionally reproaching him on his supposed incompetence, thus tending to disgrace him every now and then. Amidu's reactions which are really very pernicious and are seriously destroying any electoral leverage of the NDC appear to be unduly provoked. Therefore, President Mills should not sit down unconcerned, but should see to the immediate stoppage of such publications which are freakishly critical of Martin Amidu.

After all, Amidu is already nursing a grudge against the Castle for the Chief of Staff's inability or unwillingness to pay him three months' salary for his retirement. It is my point of view that Martin Amidu deserves all his retirement benefits (including the three months' pay), in so far as he earlier tended his resignation letter which was not accepted by the President, who advised him to stay on to do his work.

If in the course of his duty, he disagreed with the President during a cabinet meeting, a compromise must have been reached. If on the other hand, he was to be relieved of his duty, another position, such as the position of an ambassador, should have been penned down for him, and his three months' pay paid him so to enable him to look after his family before taking his ambassadorial position. And that could have brought peace.

Under the present circumstance, the best thing for the President to do is to send a three-man delegation to discuss certain compromises with Martin Amidu, including the payment of his retirement benefits, appointment of him to a new position, and the total discontinuation of those obnoxious publications of either side. These will bring peace, and the President can even invite him for some fruitful discussions. I advise that the President should orchestrate this positive 'negation of negation' political principle to reduce the tension growing against the NDC, as a result of Amidu's publications.

ECONOMIC/SOCIAL FACTORS
Other circumstances really denting the image of NDC are the economic factors and certain evil social occurrences which involve ethnic wars, spousal killings, suicides, contract killings etc. The economic factors comprising the ever-soaring dollar rate and the tendency for people to make purchases with the dollar, and the ever-increasing prices of commodities, including food items, are making life unbearable. And all these are throwing mud at the government's figure. Something must be done immediately to arrest the ever-flying dollar rate, whilst high prices of commodities must be stopped.

If possible, price-control measures can be applied to assuage the harshness of the rising-prices problem.

Of course, the US Economics Buildings price-control mechanisms can be recommended, but they have long-range assuaging effects after a slow take-off. But I advise that a list of prices of certain commodities should immediately be published, and inspectors or security officers should be made to go round to enforce compliance, until prices become stabilised. Right now, Atta Mills's administration is always being condemned for the hikes in prices and this will have a deleterious effect on NDC's electoral chances if they do nothing about that issue.

The social circumstances cannot be fairly attributed to the government's own doing, even though some economic hardships can conduce to suicide, and 'sakawa' killings (murdering of people for some human parts for the application of juju that supposedly brings money). But as a pastor, I am of the opinion that these killings are spiritual, and I hope to discuss such issues in my next week's articles when I take a look a Rev. Dr. Owusu Bempah's prophecy.  However, it is my expectation that the NDC will take seriously the 'negation of negation' principle I have been enunciating, and act on it to deal with Rawlings's threats, Martin Amidu's disclosures, and the confusing economic problems occurring in the country. Anyway, I advise the Christian Council, Muslim Council, Ghana Pentecostal Council, Ghana Charismatic Council and all other churches to pray for some economic reliefs and peace in the nation.

NADMO IN (UPPER WEST)
Reports from the Upper West Region indicate that officers and field workers of NADMO over there, especially in Nandom district, are facing some intolerable deprivations which have made them poor and wretched. Their Travel and Transport (T and T) expenses are still not paid them and nobody knows when theses hard workers are going to receive such payments. Besides, their monthly salaries are irregularly paid, whilst their expected Single Spine 'grace' is still not forthcoming, and these are alleged to be putting them at a great disadvantage, making them still poor and miserable. And when are they going to have some duty allowances?

The National Executive Officer, comrade Kofi Portuphy, is therefore called upon to act immediately to address these grievances, especially their T&T and Single Spine allowances!