To Mrs. Elizabeth Ohene: "Okoto de ne bo dwɛ, anya akyɛ de ɔkɔ." The Hypocrisy of Selective Outrage in Ghanaian Politics.

It is deeply unfair to remain silent or indifferent when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is in power, even when they commit serious atrocities. Yet, as soon as they find themselves in opposition and experience similar treatment, their voices rise in protest. Are NPP members more deserving of justice than their counterparts in the National Democratic Congress (NDC)? Why the double standard, Mrs. Elizabeth Ohene?

I hold great respect for Mrs. Ohene as a journalist with an impeccable career that began in 1967. However, I take issue with her blatant hypocrisy. She belongs to a generation of Ghanaian professionals who should have set a high standard for truth and impartiality. Instead, politics and personal biases have clouded the moral compass of many, rendering them ineffective in contributing meaningfully to national development.

Mrs. Ohene, a former editor of the Daily Graphic and once a close associate of former President Jerry John Rawlings, went into self-imposed exile during the early days of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime. Upon returning to Ghana in 2001, she was appointed Minister of State for Tertiary Education under President John Agyekum Kufuor.

The Silence Over NPP’s Human Rights Violations

As a seasoned journalist, Mrs. Ohene found no issue when the Kufuor administration prosecuted and imprisoned notable NDC figures such as Tsatsu Tsikata, Victor Selormey, Kwame Peprah, Ibrahim Adams, and Dan Abodakpi. Victor Selormey, despite being critically ill and dependent on an oxygen tank, was left to die in prison without compassion. Where was Mrs. Ohene’s voice then?

Was she absent from Ghana on January 9, 2017, when members of the NPP’s Invisible Forces assaulted a police officer at the Flagstaff House?

Did she not hear of the following incidents?

• 25 March 2017: The Delta Force violently attacked and removed Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei, from his office.
• 6 April 2017: Delta Force members stormed a Kumasi Circuit Court and freed 13 of their members who were on trial.
• 27 July 2017: The same Delta Force disrupted operations at the Ashanti Metro Mass Transit terminal over the appointment of a new director.
• 16 October 2017: NPP youth locked up the School Feeding Program office in Tamale, demanding changes in leadership.
• 22 February 2018: The Kandahar Boys attacked the CEO of the Tamale Teaching Hospital over leadership disagreements.

If she had been as vocal then as she is now, perhaps her credibility would remain intact.

The Hypocrisy of Ignoring Political Persecution

Mrs. Ohene conveniently forgets the brutality meted out to NDC officials by the NPP government. In 2017, NPP-aligned thugs unlawfully invaded the residence of Hon. Kofi Adams, seizing his vehicles without justification. The same year, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, former Minister of Power, had his home raided by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) under the guise of investigating the AMERI deal. Similarly, Hon. John Jinapor’s residence was stormed, all in an attempt to uncover documents related to the same energy contract—an agreement the NPP later amended, extending its duration and worsening the financial burden on Ghana.

Was Mrs. Ohene blind when journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, after exposing corruption and NPP-aligned vigilante groups, had to flee for his life?

Betraying Ghana’s Future for Personal Gain

In 2021, Mrs. Ohene was appointed Chair of the Board of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). Under her watch, SSNIT almost sold its hotels and prime assets to Bryan Acheampong, then NPP minister and MP for Abetifi. How could she, at nearly 80 years old, endorse such a reckless decision that would have cost Ghana millions? Where was her journalistic integrity then?

Mrs. Ohene cannot claim moral superiority now when she failed to call out wrongdoing while in a position of influence. If she remained silent when power was in her hands, she has no right to raise her voice now. As the Akan adage goes: "Okoto de ne bo dwɛ, anya akyɛ de ɔkɔ." If you failed to act when you had the opportunity, you cannot pretend to be a moral authority when the tables turn.

If Mrs. Ohene truly wishes to be a voice of reason, she must abandon her selective criticism. If she could not speak out when her own party was in power, she has no credibility in crying foul now that they are in opposition. Ghana deserves better than politically biased elders who distort history to suit their interests.

Lewis Shanka
Amsterdam