Arthur Kennedy double-speaks

On Thursday, July 10th, 2007, the web portal of Joy FM - myjoyonline.com, had reported comments made by the Chairman of Akuffo-Addo's communications team, Dr Arthur Kennedy, seeking to portray himself and his campaign as above pettiness and sticking to issues rather than personalities, and by extension, portraying the campaign of Akuffo-Addo as operating above board.

This is after he, Arthur Kennedy, had led the onslaught on certain personalities in the NDC, referring to them in derogatory terms and all….

Much as I had refused to wade into the politics of lies and deceit that had clouded the airwaves on issues regarding the up-coming elections, I could not help but write to expose the double-speak that Arthur Kennedy has been engulfed in, since he got himself, albeit prematurely into Ghanaian politics via his one vote at the NPP congress.

I must start by pointing out that, if Arthur Kennedy was a good communicator, who did not talk from both sides of his mouth, he would not have garnered only one vote in the NPP flagbearership contest, after junketing between the US and other locations for more that 6 months prior to the faithful contest.

It will be recalled that immediately he was appointed the Head of Communications, Arthur Kennedy, aka “single-one”, found reason to lie about the circumstances leading to the blocking of the road by members of the Akuffo-Addo campaign to prevent Prof Mills from going through to the Chief Imam's house in March this year. It took direct questions to compel Dr Kennedy to admit that he was not present at the time of the incident to fairly comment on it, but had based his scathing response to that incident on mere hearsay and conjecture.

Then came a recent article with this same man, talking down to Ghanaians by trying to misinterpret the statements and comments of others, especially Prof Mills, who's shoes he is not even qualified to shine. When he was caught in that lie too, he had to come out, yet again with some more concocted 'ananse' stories.
If this is what “Dr. One Vote” was included with the NPP/Akuffo-Addo campaign to do, then he is in for a surprise.

We have seen this again and again since July 10th, and we still have months to go before Prof Atta Mills is crowned President on December 7th.

I think Ghanaians are cleverer than the Arthur Kennedys give them. In fact, Ghanaians can recognise signs of desperation when they see it, and they know that Arthur Kennedy is scared of getting yet another single vote in December. This might explain why he throws a lot of mud, hoping some will stick.

“Dr.” Arthur Kennedy, please leave communications for the real communicators on the ground. Make it a duty to believe in something, rather than just say anything that comes to mind, just because you want to please those around you. You have vacillated too many times already, and it is making you look more like the “teenage” bully on the park when you come swinging – with your lackeys in tow.

Just like we have realized your desperation, we have noticed your penchant for double-talk.

Cut that out Mr., we've had enough of the rhetoric and political posturing and will want to see some matured politics, like its done where you got your free education, paid for by your “paymasters”.

Your NPP party, has been recycling promises for some time now – 2000, 2004 and even now, 2008, we are hearing the same promises all over – 99% of which have not, will not, and cannot be fulfilled by your group – because you take delight in living beyond your means – helping deepen corruption and anomy in our beloved country.

These are the hard questions Arthur Kennedy and his “akwada nyame” boss, Akuffo-Addo must really answer, rather than preach to the choir;

1. What happened to the jobs promised to the youth in 2000 and 2004?
2. What happened to the size of government, which your party said was too big when the NDC was in power?
3. What happened to the cost of living, which you promised to reduce when voted into office?
4. What happened to the affordability theory in relation to the pricing of utilities, fuel, and services?
5. What happened to their zero tolerance for corruption?
6. What happened to the social fabric of Ghanaian society since 2002 ?
7. What happened to the promise of justice, Mr Human Rights advocate – there has been a regicide among others, and perpetrators are walking free ?

These are just a fraction of the questions many Ghanaians will want you to answer.
And they await your response earnestly !

Author : Kwashie Amenyo,
Takoradi,