Riposte to Ekua Kwansema's Answers

Ms Kwansema, many thanks for answering my questions. In fact, I am impressed – at both the speed and the manner of your responses. You certainly write with passion and a style that makes riveting reading – few can argue with that. I believe you have set part of the record straight, and as I predicted beforehand, you have probably won over many neutrals and some of your detractors. I admit I was sceptical about you at first, but you may be winning me over. Some of your answers are convincing, and I will raise no further questions about your identity, your passion, or your motivation. I still feel, however, that you didn't really address some of the questions I posed – certainly not in the spirit within which they were posed – so I'd like to pick you up on them, and also take the opportunity to answer the questions you've posed me (even if they were intended to be rhetorical).

Before I launch into my riposte, I'd just like to take the opportunity to clear up a few things about myself too – it's only fair. I'm a Ghanaian living in the UK. My 100% allegiance goes to Ghana – I am neither an NPP nor an NDC follower. In fact, in the just-ended elections I was more than a little partial to Dr. Nduom and the CPP – but unfortunately they didn't even make a dent. I am a product of Ga, Ewe and Fante ancestors, and I have lived in the UK for some 10 years.

It was not my intention to attack NDC, President Mills, or the 'Rawlingses', nor am I campaigning for the NPP; it benefits me not a single jot to do so. The examples I cited in my post were purely for your benefit. Many other NDC sympathizers have also posted pro-NDC articles which I haven't challenged – simply because their analyses were robust and fact-based. I have also come across some very pro-NPP submissions – again most have their basis in known-fact and some robust analysis. The only reason I have not had the motivation to 'question' some of NPP propagandists is because they haven't written quite as many partisan pieces as you have – but their time is coming, soon.

If you will permit me, I'll dispense with formalities as I review the issues you didn't do justice to.

3. Ekua, I beg to differ when you say you have not been divisive. You may not intend to be divisive, but I think you have been (sorry!). Being divisive is not just about directly inciting one group against another. A lack of balance and some emotive or insulting language can cause divisions and strife. Likening former President Kuffuor to 'Eyadema' and 'Mugabe' is highly emotive, and can be divisive. Like him or loathe him, he was our elected President. I'm sure you receive a lot of e-mail and feedback from those who like your posts and support your cause, but you must also receive mail from many who think you're a trouble-causer. I agree that no author can thrill everyone, but for the good of Ghana (which is what this is all about at the end of the day), we must all be a little more circumspect. We can state facts and express opinions without resorting to personal 'attacks'.

4. I don't know many people in the NPP (apart from those prominent former Government Ministers and Senior Party Officials I read about), but I'm sure the party has thousands of supporters. Do you think it's fair to brand all of them as arrogant? That's a rhetorical question. If you've only been trying to address issues between the two main Presidential candidates – as you claim – then why the attacks on former President Kuffuor too? As far as I'm aware, he too did not contest the just-ended elections. My point here was that the arrogance you accuse the NPP of exists across the political divide and beyond – we can't address just one part of the problem.

5. Ekua, please don't twist my words or misconstrue my intentions. At no point did I suggest that President Mills (or indeed yourself) should leap to the defence of former President Kuffuor or the NPP. I was merely picking you up on a point you made in one of your submissions which suggested the reverse. You levelled an accusation against former President Kuffuor (for allegedly keeping quiet about something), and suggested that the “humble” President Mills would have leaped to the defence of his political rivals if the shoe had been on foot. I didn't necessarily disagree with the issues you raised about the former President – I just wanted to pick you up on your President Mills reference and show – using the one trillion GHc example – that this has not happened (in that or any other instance as far as I'm aware).

6. Yes, both former Presidents are adults. And it's no secret that don't like each other, but it would be unfair of you to suggest that the issue is as simple as that. As an intelligent woman, I know you're aware of the implications of some of the unfortunate exchanges between them. When a former President hurls insults at the sitting President – who has been constitutionally and legitimately elected – and likens him to an armed robber, it sends an unfortunate signal to the rest of the world and it devalues our Presidency. It can even deter prospective investors as they might get the impression that tensions in the country are too high. The Presidency is much more than the individual who occupies it, or even the numerous people who are employed to make it an institution; it is a reflection of all of us as Ghanaians. When such things happen, Ghana is the loser – and since we both (you and I) claim to be looking out for the best interests of Ghana, we should leave no-one out in our condemnation of such acts. They are not proper or right. In the same vain, it is also very wrong for former President Kuffuor to call former President Rawlings derogatory names (e.g. 'sasabonsam'). I'm sure former President Kuffuor went down in many people's estimation when he did that.

8. Ekua, I really don't have a problem with Mr. Akufo-Addo's “concession speech”. I've lost before, and it wasn't an enjoyable experience – so it doesn't surprise me that his congratulations were offered grudgingly, particularly given his suspicions. You might do the same in his position, and if that is your definition of arrogant then I'm afraid many of us are too. Incidentally, do you know any gracious losers? We often band the expression 'sore loser' about, as though there are people who like or enjoy losing. As I said in my previous note to you, 'to concede' is 'to yield'. One cannot yield when one has already lost. The minute the EC announced President Mills as the winner, a concession became pointless. From a neutral point of view, your comment on this looks like a classic case of 'akokor sa kyerE akroma a, EnyE no fE'.

The fundamental purpose of my post was to urge you to show just a little more balance and objectivity – if your agenda is Ghana's well-being as you claim – particularly now that the NDC has won the elections and will form our next Government. Ghana needs more constructive input and less of the other kind. I'm no fan of the NDC, but it is easy for me to comment that they did some good things when they had their eight years in power. They laid some foundations for former President Kuffuor and the NPP to build on; but they also did some not-so-good things (you see, balance). NPP have also done some good things and some not-so-good things (again, balance). I don't think there is a political party in the history of the world that has fulfilled all its campaign promises or done only good things – it's not humanly possible. When you 'attack' one side – as you have done so often – you come across to the neutral as either embittered or 'on the payroll'. One of my self-imposed objectives was to establish if you were for real.

You have every right to choose a party to support and campaign for – we live in a democracy. If I had your style, passion, and more free time, I might have campaigned for Dr. Nduom myself. But if we all want the best for Ghana – as we claim – them we must campaign on issues and facts. You could have analysed portions of NDC's manifesto, contrast this to NPP's manifesto and their record in office, and told us all how the former is a better option for Ghanaians. You could even have highlighted failings of the NPP Government and argued why Ghanaians shouldn't retain them in power, without using unsubstantiated hearsay and personal attacks. Ghana deserves better than that, and it is incumbent on passionate intellectuals like you to educate those who don't understand the issues and lead by example. If a married couple are having problems, and you are invited to 'sit in' or counsel them, you have to be balanced, fair, objective, and impartial – that is, if you truly care about the marriage and want the best for the couple. The minute you choose sides, you've messed it all up. I now understand why your submissions came out the way they did – by your own admission, you have been blatantly campaigning for NDC (which is your right).

I keenly await your response, but in the meantime, how many marriage proposals have you received since you started posting your opinions online? Are you married? If I were to propose, would you fast-track me to the head of the queue? I look forward to many more pieces from you – I will read them – but I hope they will be balanced, constructive, and based on facts. Kudos to you and God bless Ghana!