An Episodic Weekend

“… Nobody can prevent the victors from celebrating and the vanquished from licking their wounds. Nonetheless the victors and the defeated candidates must moderate their next line of action…” - Daily Guide Editorial: Jan 30, 2024

It was as spasmodic as it was anecdotal. It began as a bus journey to our residence at Tema on Thursday evening: we arrived at dawn. On Friday, we were on the premises of the Cedi Conference Centre.

So, that area of the Department of Economics which is close to the Post Office and the Department of Modern Languages (including Russian which we studied with Atukwei Okai's Ya Goya) could be used to build such a gargantuan edifice as a conference centre.

The congregation booklets were available, and some of us put on our lenses to sift through the pages. We giggled to ourselves when reading the welcome to our graduating students, family and friends at page 11 to see “Sincere congratulations and wishing you all the best!!!”

Three exclamation marks! Of course, 'Aanyekoo!' had only one exclamation mark. Then, we saw at page 12 that the University Council had some members who were 'Representive' of UG Alumni, Convocation, CHASS, UTAG, TEWU, GRASAG, SRC; but the School of Graduate Studies had Board Members who were 'Representative' of their respective Departments.

Furthermore, we scanned through the pages and at page 61, we see the name 'Mary' under 'Law and Practice of Public Administration' and we say, 'that's my daughter' – who said 'like father like son'? In this day and age, when ladies are outstripping gentlemen in academia, 'like father, like daughter' also goes. So does 'like mother, like son'! Then we met our old friend, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye and he had gone to read National Security Law and Practice. What about Matilda Otiwaa Ameyaw Dadzie? And Godwin Puozuing; Law of the Sea and Ocean Governance and Ohene-Djan, … all of them.

On Saturday, we chanced to go to Honourable Addo-Kufuor's residence at Cantonments. Our discussion would definitely turn to politics, and Honourable Addo-Kufuor would offer his opinion: You know the three concepts retarding the progress of African countries, including Ghana: a disciplined man is said to be wicked – for his strictness; patriotism is a nebulous concept to the African; integrity is lacking.

Having visited Honourable Addo-Kuffuor, we were reminded that his elder brother is domiciled at Peduase, directly opposite the President's Peduase Lodge. In the lead was Mr. Frank Appiagyei, proprietor of Beverly Hills Hotel and one with many awards from the Ministry of Sports, Tourism, et al. His Excellency Agyekum Kufuor resides in a very spacious home located in the mountains of Aburi. By comparison, Kufuor's residence is nowhere near Jacob Zuma's KwaNxamalala Nkandla Home in South Africa for which the South African government spent $27m (R 240m). Kufuor misses his wife Rebecca and he reminds us: humility pays.

Does the ex-President not deserve the 'package' of Presidents? Yes, he does; Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution says (2) The salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities available, to the President, the Vice President, the Chairman and the other Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers of State being expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund, shall be determined by Parliament on the recommendations of the committee referred to in clause (1) of this article. Kufuor fell under this categorization, and Dr. (Mrs.) Chinery-Hesse (later Ishmael Yawson) insisted, under the Mills' administration, that “the emoluments of the retiring President cannot be varied”.

We look at the Chinery-Hesse Report (2001-2005) and compare it with Prof. Dora Francisca Edua-Buandoh Report on ex-President Mahama which is based on the guiding principles of fairness, equality, motivation and ability of government to pay: state provided staff not exceeding four; two security persons; one fully furnished residence in the national capital and one out-of-capital residence at a location of the former President's choice (both of which shall not revert to the state in the event of the demise of the former President; chauffeur, two vehicles, a maintained and comprehensively insured, and changed every four years; an up-to-date office and communication equipment; a cook, a steward, a gardener; state-sponsored international travel and free health-care. We ponder the terse admonition: humility pays; respect the constituents; show love and fellow-feeling to your neighbours…

Then, the NPP fiercely-contested parliamentary primaries: 28 incumbent MPs lost their seats, some notable faces like Freda Prempeh of Tano North will be missed. Adwoa Safo may have had a premonition of her fate, losing to Mike Oquaye Jnr 1,194 – 328.

She appeared unfazed as she danced on social media. K.T. Hammond had alleged that his rival, Binfoh Darkwa, had employed thugs to beat up his supporters and turn on him.

K.T. in the full glare of the public noted; “I am just putting you (Binfoh) on notice. Get him, where he is, he should leave town immediately… Today, I'm going to give him a showdown. Two forms of showdown, I will beat him here, I will humiliate him here, and then organize for him to be beaten physically”.

One would have thought silvery hair was a reflection of wisdom and maturity, and expectations are high when one reaches the age of 63 – and that person is a Cabinet Minister. Asenso-Boakye remained cool and behaved in a gentlemanly fashion when Raphael Agyapong went to congratulate him for winning the Bantama seat.

Congrats: Tony Monieh, a Kumasi-based lawyer, Ursula OwusuEkuful, all winners. To the losers like Eugene Antwi of Subin Constituency, you live to fight and win another day. It would not be 'fear delegates.' Rather, it should be 'trust delegates' – to carry out their dignified personal opinion about aspirants – parliamentary or presidential.

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By Africanus Owusu-Ansah