Arthur Kennedy's Supposed Hatred Of Nana Akufo-addo 

For a while now, loyalists of the NPP flag-bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, have been accusing me, as well as others of hating him. Indeed, it appears that there a carefully co-ordinated strategy to frame any disagreement or criticism of him as hatred. Of course, he has disagreed with many others and currently disagrees with President Mahama, Paul Afoko and others but has never been accused of hatred for these people.

Hatred, or for that matter, love are not things that serious and mature politicians dwell on.

In 1860, Lincoln won after a bitter primary and had all his enemies in his government in the famed "Team of Rivals".

Lyndon Johnson and John Kennedy were not fond of each other and yet JFK made him his running mate and they won in 1960.

Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush had a bitterly contested primary and yet Reagan made him running mate and they won in 1980.

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years by de Klerk et al but he worked with him to create a new South Africa.

Here in Ghana, J.A. Kufuor was bitterly opposed by Nana Akufo-Addo and others, including a 11th - hour attempt to remove him as flag-bearer --and yet he let Nana serve as a Minister throughout his presidency.

After my inclusion in the 2008 campaign team, I have done many things to advance Nana Addo's presidential ambitions:

1. I gave him a road - map on picking a running mate.
2. I persuaded him to take part in the 2008 presidential debates.
3. I urged him repeatedly to plan for a possible second round.
4. I wrote the definitive guidelines for winning 2012 in "Chasing the Elephant into the Bush".
5. I worked hard to reconcile Alan to him and to make the 2010 primary unnecessary before endorsing him.
6. I warned quietly at first, then loudly and repeatedly that making "all-die-be-die " the defining slogan of his campaign will lead to defeat.
7. I campaigned for him in 2012 despite the fact his team had campaigned against me in my primary.

It is my considered opinion that many of these counsels, if heeded, would have made Nana Akufo-Addo, at this time, a resident of the Flagstaff house instead of Nima.

In the last few years, there have been actions, by Nana Akufo-Addo and/or his loyalists that I believe have harmed our party and our country. Consistent with my nature, I have stated my disagreements respectfully but vigourously. After all, I did not oppose military dictatorship and go into exile in order to be a sycophant to civilians.

As MLK put it, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." The idea, popular amongst Nana Addo aficionados that they can increase love for him through hatred, insults and intimidation is self-defeating. It will not work with me.

Finally, I believe that the relevant question is not whether I love or hate Nana Addo;

IT IS WHETHER HIS TENURE AS LEADER OF THE NPP HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO THE NPP AND GHANA!!!

1. He took over a party with the presidency and a healthy Parliamentary majority.
2. He took over a party that controlled 6 regions.
3. He took over a party with goodwill in the media and the judiciary.
4. He took over a party united and at peace.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?
That, my friends is the question.
May God bless you all.