The Past is the Best Prophet For the Future.

Those who do not remember the past
Are condemned to repeat it
The past is the best prophet
For the future.

The above lines are my reply to those callous insensitive, who behave an act as if they were descendants of Ballack. I was of the opinion that Ghanaians are very decent and God-fearing people who are sensitive to the needs and feelings of their fellow human beings. But after reading some of the stuff some people writes as rejoinders to my articles, I have come to the conclusion that, I was greatly mistaken. I have also been compelled to revise my scale of values which has led me to the realization that if I don't encounter such people who don't realize that one major cardinal principle in life is not to condemn a fellow without hearing his own side, I will never miss anything of value.

I am a Christian at heart and everything I do is based on what Christ taught his disciples. In addition, I base everything on facts for I never condemn anything without proof/evidence. Contributors, especially those from the National Democratic Congress have been writing nasty things, in reaction to features placed in the Ghana web, Myjoyonline and The Ghanaian journal. But I have this advice for them. In as much as they claim they are put off by my write-ups, so also are descent-minded Ghanaians repulsed by the kind of stuff they write. Pure vulgar language which is characteristically, un-Ghanaian in all its ramifications. If they don't like my writings because they feel haunted by what I write, the best they could do is not to read it at all or at best, let them relocate to another planet, just as they would do when Nana Akufo Addo is elected President of Ghana, come December
7, 2008.

Some people called me on phone to complain that my writings do not help the country. But I say it does! What is wrong with my writings? No one can dispute the fact that I always proffer proof in support of my arguments. If NDC members, notably Rawlings, Mills, Asiedu Nketia, Modestos Ahiable and others accuse Kufuor's administration of tribalism and I refute the allegation and provide evidence that tribalism was more prevalent during Rawlings and Mills regime, where have I gone wrong? All that I attempt to do is to caution that “those who live in Glass houses should not throw stones”. Does the NDC as a party, call Rawlings to order anything he makes any of his boom speeches? No, not once, not twice, nor thrice has he made such provocative statements, but nobody in the nefarious contraption had deemed it wise to caution or reprimand him. Has Akufo Addo ever made any inflammatory statement that the country would be plunged into chaos if the NDC makes any attempt to hi-jack or rig the election? No, not at all.! But anytime A member of the NDC speaks on the elections, he or she threatens and precedes his statement with if the elections are …., the country would be plunged into chaos. Meanwhile, Rawlings children are outside the country. We have not forgotten the “Atta Ayi Nie, Kufuor Nie” and the Yaa Na ti nie, Kufuor nie” utterances by Rawlings against a sitting Head of State.
This is most unfair. All those making those noises should first call their leading member to order for those provocative statements before they launch their attacks on a small fly like me.

People accuse me of directing my attacks on Rawlings instead of Mills The say since Rawlings is not their flag-bearer, Mills should be the object of my attack. On this, I would advise such people to read my write-ups well before they attempt to comment on them. I am of the opinion that if they concede the fact that Rawlings and the NDC have short changed Ghanaians, then they have taken us for a ride. My question has always been this. Don't Mills owe us an apology for the evils Rawlings and the party have perpetrated against Ghanaians? On top of that, are we not entitled to some from of reparations for such evil acts? And who is better placed in such a position to do so than Mills? Are we not demanding reparation and apology from Europeans for the enslavement and colonization of Africans?

We should also hold Mills accountable for all what happened during the AFRC/PNDC since the NDC originated from the AFRC/PNDC? After all, don't we in the NPP trace our origins from the UGCC and UP? Most people have been making very uncomplimentary remarks about our party and its forbearers –the UGCC and the UP, to the extent of calling those who started the agitation for independence traitors. This much I detest.

Nothing should be done to malign the name of any member of the big Six. J.B Danquah was not a sell-out. He was instrumental in getting independence for our country. He, together with Paa Grant realized the enormous task ahead and believing in the theory of Division of Labor used their hard-earned money to ferry Nkrumah back to Ghana to become Secretary of the UGCC. These were men of foresight for they made the right choice at the right time. Nkrumah alone could not have attained independence for Ghana. He like Rawlings was propelled to the seat of power by forces which later stood for everything they had detested. Paa Willie, Edward Akufo Addo against Kwame Nkrumah on one hand and Rawlings and Boakye Djan on another.

I would also like to debunk the notion that those who overthrew Nkrumah were traitors. We should avoid what we term: hero worship. Nkrumah was idolized so much so well that he nearly became a demi-god. People are today condemning Robert-Mugabe of dictatorship. That is exactly what our first president would have grown up to become - riding rough shop over the feelings of every body in the country.

Nkrumah did well in terms of developments for there is no gain saying that Ghana reached the peak of its development agenda under Dr Kwame Nkrumah. But when it comes to human right issues, Nkrumah's credentials were nothing to write home about. The PDA, under which political opponents of Nkrumah could be detained for many years without trial made life even more intolerable for Ghanaians. Was it ingratitude or zeal to remain in power perpetually that made Nkrumah resort to eliminating or detaining his political opponents? Was it a natural deed for Nkrumah to detain J.B Danquah (the man who made it possible for the former to come to Ghana) and ensure that he did not come out alive? Unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles and so it was with the removal of Nkrumah from power.

Change is a necessary element in life and whoever disagrees with me on this is not attuned to the realities of life. Those who poo-pooh the overthrow of Nkrumah should advise the NDC to throw in the towel and allow the NPP to remain in power till thy kingdom come. In 1966, the yearning for change had reached a crescendo, but all avenues for a change of government had been closed and the CPP had become the only legal party in Ghana. Any least criticism of the Nkrumah's regime would lead to the person being detained in a matter of minutes. Dr Nkrumah wrote that: “if a change is too long delayed, violence erupts here and there after; not that man wills it but the past accumulated grievances erupt with a volcanic fury.

In a similar vein, the late Okatakyie Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa wrote in his book, the 24th February revolution: “I am a soldier and politics is not my game. I was of the opinion that if the people needed a change of government, it was for the people to decide not the army. When all else failed, we did what we did”.
From the writings and statements of these prominent Ghanaians, we get the impression that the circumstances prevailing at that time made the coup detat of 24th February, 1966 a necessary evil. If the coup had not occurred at the time it did, I do not think the removal of Nkrumah would have been possible. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. He would have stayed on in power to become like Robert Mugabe, Kenneth Kaunda, Gnassimgbe Eyadema, Muammar El-Ghadaffi and many other African leaders who at the time of independence went along with the masses and later on lost their sense of direction and went their separate ways. Is this what we wanted Nkrumah to be? No! And so it was proper for him to go at the time he went.

And those who effected his ouster should rather be acclaimed heroes instead of traitors. Is it not pathetic, ironical and unethical that those vocal followers of Rawlings and the NDC who support the overthrow of Dr Liman's PNP government after only two and half years in the office are the very ones condemning Afrifa, Kotoka and the rest for overthrowing the Nkrumah's regime. What is the difference between the perpetrators of February 24, 1966 coup and those of the 31st December, 1981? And if Rawlings should be honored and acclaimed a hero, what prevents us from using the same yard stick to acclaim those who performed that woman's job of 14th February 2000 as heroes. In the case of the putsch of 31st December, 2000 there was even an opportunity to effect a change of government through the ballot box possible. This makes Rawlings coup of 1981 unpardonable and therefore a treasonable felony. And if we are to accept that the coup of 1981 was a treasonable act, it means that the baby that came out of that act (the NDC) is an illegimate party and should be aborted just as unwanted babies are aborted prematurely.

Just as I was about to conclude this piece, a caller informed me of what Rawlings said at Ashiaiman in the course of pursuing the agenda of making this country ungovernable. He talked about high profile murders in the country being perpetrated by the NPP. He also alleges that the NPP knows it will lose the elections and so is going about distributing guns to its members. Haba, Mr. ex President! NDC supporters, what do you make of such statement? Is this what we need in the country at this time of our national development? Who is heating up the body polity, Rawlings or a small fly like me? What is the proof that these murders were committed by NPP men? If we want to go into this high profile murders, then we should place the whole blame at the doorsteps of Rawlings. Who introduced armed robbery into the country? Rawlings! He imported a wide range of ammunition into the country and gave them to the CDRs, WDC, the Commandoes and the militias or whatever you choose to call them. These holders of these guns were not accountable to anybody. During his time, the use of AK47 became an everyday occurrence. These guns were used by members of the so-called revolutionary cadres to settle personal scores.

Infact, Rawlings should be the last person to talk about killings of Ghanaians. Did not more than 33 Ghanaian women in the prime of their life perish under mysterious circumstances during the time he, Rawlings was the lord and mayor of all that he surveyed. Was he not the President and Commander–in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces? If the NDC is accusing Kufuor's government of not finding perpetrators of some murders like those of the Yaa Nah, then in similar vein, Rawlings and his government must be held accountable for the death of the 33 or so women. Human life is of the same value. No loss of human life is of more value than the other. The thirty or so women were human beings. So also were the Ya Na and his family.
We have not forgotten the killing in mysterious circumstances one Chakittey, the driver whose vehicle was involved in an accident with Rawlings convoy. He was arrested and put in police cells. Three days later, we were told the man had died of diarrhea. Wonders, they say will never end. Did Rawlings not have a hand in this man's death? Yet this former President has forgotten the atrocities he personally committed and is inciting the masses against the constitutionally elected President of the country. And people are hailing him here and there! Those who live in glass housed should not throw stones

Have you forgotten another altercation between Rawlings and a taxi driver? Rawlings personally overturned the taxi cab and gave the driver a hot chase, jumping walls and gates until he personally caught up with the poor, frightened cab driver who was subjected to instant justice. Does this man have any moral fibre to be condemning the Kufuor's administration for inaction and lack of vision? Put Rawlings Regime and that of Kufuor side by side and the former will pale to insignificance, whilst that of Kufuor will shine and be constant like the Northern Star. Rawlings own will be like the “kakaamotobi” whose mention in those days was enough to send children scampering for cover.

In conclusion, I would like to state that those who are beating the war drums should not be ruled by aggression, for a fighter that rushes is awaiting a terrible fall. They should never bite more than they can chew for the land will never die, but will rather become4 barren. They should remember that they are swimming in a wild sea and that when they get to the centre of the sea, where the water is deep, wide and dangerous, they should never try to swim against the tide.
Yes, the National Democratic Congress claims it is the inferno. The New Patriotic Party is the storm. But has one ever heard of burnt water? If anyone tells you of burnt water, tell him to produce the ashes. On this note I end this piece. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and Mahmoud Bawumia all the way.

Daniel Danquah Damptey
[email protected]