Let Ghana`s political dynasties continue to thrive

Of all the nonsense peddled about the NPP flagbearership race, nothing makes me angrier than the two (reiateo] assertions (nat "we Ghanaians" do not want to create a political dynasty and for this reason, the highly-qualified Defence Minister Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor should wait his turn to lead the NPP in 2008 because he is the younger brother of the sitting President.

Not only is this dynasty argument sad and ridiculous, it does not hold water when tested against our political history. This is because Ghana's political history is the history of Dynasties. Families have bossed politics in our country since the nationalist struggle began in earnest in 1947. The dynasties have cut across ideological and party lines. This piece then highlights this development with the sote aim of burying forever the '2\ap-t;ap about Dr Addo-Kuufor.

Justice Nii Amaa Ollenu was the brother-in-law of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia. Justice Ollenu held executive office, He was Chairm{!ln of the Presidential Commission until Mr. Justice Akuffo-Addo .. was elected President. Justice Ollenu was married to Nana Afua 6I;;ema Busia the direct sister of Dr Busia and former Queenmother of Wenchl. JustIce Ollenu had a daughter with Nana Frema Busia. She is Mrs Amerley Awua Asamoa and the last time I checked she worked for ECG.

Moreover, Justice Ollenu led the Ghana Congress Party, a Political Party that his brother-in-law Dr Busia also led! If the propaganda about dynasties was around in the 1950s and 1960s then we would not have not Dr Busia as Prime Minister or Justice Ollenu head of the Presidential Commission. Both men distinguished themselves in their chosen professions. Both men served their country with distinction. Both men reached great

The dynasty bandwagon gathered pace after the Ollenu-Busia family connection. The Second republic saw His Excellency Edward Akuffo-Addo become President. A distinguished man, he was the in-law of Mr William Ofori-Atta (Paa Willie) who served as Minister for Education and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the second republic. However, before Paa Willie had held executive office, his brother, Aaron Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta served as Minister for Local Government, Minister for Justice and Speaker of Parliament under Kwame Nkrumah. Paa Willie and Aaron Ofori-Atta cut across party lines and ideology yet no one dared suggest to Paa Willie (and the Progress Party) that he could not hold office because his brother had held political office before him under the CPP. When Edward Akuffo-Addo put himself forward for President, he beat Edward Asafu-Adjaye without any mass hysteria about the formers family connections. Thank goodness I say. President Akuffo-Addo had such dignity and personality!

Other members of the Ofori-Atta/Akuffo-Addo dynasty have served with distinction. There is the Honourable Nana Akuffo-Addo, Dr. Jones Ofori-Atta, Mrs Angela Ofori-Atta, (and someone has said JB Danquah Adu, former Deputy Minister for Women and Children's Affairs and sitting MP for the Abuakwa North constituency and Owuraku Amofah former NDC Deputy Mini.§ter for Tourism are from the Ofori Atta family.) Without a doubt no other family has served Ghana for so long and so well.

The last time I checked Honourable Osafo-Marfo's brother was Dr LK Adjei Marfo. He was in the PjNDC and served as a Presidential Staffer for Cocoa Affairs. Now, without attacking Osafo-Marfo, If we are going to use dynasties as a yardstick to decide who should lead the NPP thenFuld prefer we f} choose a Presidential candidate whose brother is in the NPP over a . Presidential candidate whose brother served in the NDC, the Party whose attacks on the NPP make Nkrumah's authoritarianism and PDA look positively benign! Does Adjei-Marfo disqualify Osafo-Marfo from the race? Can someone in the NPP argue that if Osafo-Marfo gets the nod, not only will this be the continuation of executive authority in Ghana by the Marfo family but the NDC can gain some access to NPP strategy and secrets? No is the answer. May the good Lord grant Osafo-Marfo the strength to campaign and be considered on his achievements alone.

No one will ever dare suggest that His Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama should be disquaiJfied from challenging for the NPP flagbearership just because he is the son-in-law of Alhaji Imoru Egala, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Information under Nkrumah and also founder, and power broker of the PNP in the third republic. Vice President Mahama is married to Hajia Ramatu Egala, the daughter of Alhaji Imoru Egala. Is this the making of a political Egala-Mahama dynasty should Alhaji Mahama win the race? Even if it is, so what I ask? Those who think he is qualified to be President let them vote for him.

Anyone who suggests that the Defence Minister with his numerous achievements (go to www.addokufuor .. com) should wait patiently for 2016
or some other date in the future just because his immediate predecessor was Mr. J.A. Kufuor is wrong. This is the kind of nonsense that if not checked very quickly can start to make sense ~fld in my view this is bad for the NPP and for Ghana. In 1979, Ghanaians elected a President whom, in my opinion (I cannot speak for "we Ghanaians") was no match in terms of leadership and experience for Victor Owusu, Colonel Bemasko or William Ofori Atta. The UP tradition is still smarting from the consequences of that rash decision.

Careful how we go this time: Let merit be our guide. Let us choose the Defence Minister. In my opinion, he is the best that there is.
Dr Kofi Heyford lives in Mitcham in London