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22.06.2010 Feature Article

MR. KWAME PIANIM AT HIS VENTRILOQUIST BEST AGAIN?

MR.  KWAME PIANIM AT HIS VENTRILOQUIST BEST AGAIN?
22.06.2010 LISTEN

A ventriloquist is person who can speak or utter words so that they seem to come from somewhere else, especially an entertainer who makes their voice appear to be coming from a dummy of a person or animal. Considering the statements by Mr. Kwame Pianim as reported in the African Watch Magazine, one is tempted to think that the eminent NPP elder ventriloquized. This is because otherwise this statesman is gradually gaining notoriety in spewing out character damaging statements which are not only detrimental to him but to some extent, dent the image of the party- NPP.

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest men planet Earth ever produced said that “setting an example is not the main means of influencing people; it is the only means.” According to Albert Einstein the only means of influencing any person, group of persons or entire society is by exemplary behavior, utterances and attitude. The latest statements attributed to Mr. Kwame Piamin, one of the Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) about former President Kuffour and his (Pianim's) admonition to NPP delegates not to elect an Ashanti as its flag bearer is intriguing. It has brought to the fore once more Mr. Pianim's desire to see the fortunes of NPP dwindle as President Mill's NDC government exhibit gross incompetence in fulfilling their electoral promises in managing the affairs of the state.

The youth of NPP take extreme exception to Mr. Pianim's penchant at making such ridiculous statements. While the youth of NPP appreciate the contributions of our founding members and elders, the behavior of Mr. Kwame Pianim continue to baffle most of us. The effusions of this hitherto respected member of the party are gradually degenerating into a very worrying phenomenon. It is now time for the NPP Executive Committee, Council of Elders and other well meaning Ghanaians to call this self acclaimed economic guru to order. There is a clear indication that Mr. Pianim's behavior is awfully shameful to our party.

Mr. Pianim may be in his prime age and while old age is a virtue, the integrity of a person is measured by his/her conduct, not by age or profession. The reasons for Mr. Pianim's behavior need to be questioned. It is important for the party to send a clear message to Mr. Pianim to pipe down or quit the party. The rank and file of the party, the youth of the party and the masses are the real owners of the party. The Dankwa-Busia-Dombo Tradition has the best policies to turn Ghana into the likes of the Asian Tigers. Ghana was rub of its specter due to the direction we took post independence. The President Kuffour's administration showed that given the mandate of Ghanaians, the tradition has the best to offer Ghanaians.

It is against this background that the teaming supporters of NPP across the country continue to offer our infringing support and respect to the elders and leaders of the party. We believe that the NPP has the panacea to solve our nations numerous problems. There is huge support base of highly educated youth in the party who are waiting to take up leadership positions and advance the course of NPP and Ghana. Mr. Pianim who had already made it in life, reached the twilight of his live must therefore be circumspect in his utterances and behavior as these can adversely affect the future fortunes of the party. Mr. Pianim's effusions will only make it difficult for the NPP's youth to continue to follow the dreams of our fore bears. Mr. Kwame Pianim will do himself and the NPP a lot of good if he thinks now of leaving a befitting legacy worthy of emulation.

The rate at which Mr. Pianim is losing his respect, dignity and trust of Ghanaians and the international community is unprecedented. At no time in history of our party has elder, leader or principal actor in the caliber of Mr. Pianim who has reached the pinnacle of achievements “deliberately” destroyed himself in such manners.

There is also school of thought that belief that Mr. Piamin may be suffering from dementia. Probably envy, stupor and old age are having a toll on his mind. People around Mr. Pianim can do him a lot of good if they help by letting him know how his attitude is fast destroying his reputation. At best they can do is to arrange for a mental check-up to ascertain his state of mental health. If we do not find a solution to this apparent loss of intellect, one will not be surprised when the worst form of insanity finally manifest itself.

The two significant issues raised by Mr. Pianim in the interview with the African Watch Magazine have elicited reactions from various quarters. The office of former President Kuffour has understandably and rightly so described the statements as unfortunate. The import of Mr. Pianim's statements can hardly be appreciated by any objective Ghanaian. The alleged phone interaction between the then President Kuffour and Mr. Pianim never came up while he (Mr. Pianim) was heading the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC). The PURC is an independent institution and one will have thought that any influence from any one will be rebutted. Mr. Pianim never raised issues about the purported interference by President Kuffour. Any principled person will have resigned to send a strong message to appointing authority but no, Mr. Pianim kept quiet and enjoyed all the benefits associated with the position. He did not even inform Ghanaians about this. He has now become a shameless gossip and lying between his teeth.

The second issue Mr. Pianim raised was the ethnic back ground of the next NPP flag bearer. It is strange and amazing for a person of Mr. Pianim's educational back ground, socio-economic and political experience and knowledge to argue on ethnic lines being the basis for election. The NPP's constitution is very clear and there is no room for rotational representation. Neither is there are rooms to entertain perceptions as the basis for electing our flag bearer. The tradition of NPP has always given our mandate to the best person irrespective of one's ethnic, religious or other considerations. Mr. Kwame Pianim is feeding into the so call perceptions that opponents of NPP want the electorates to believe. These opponents do so because it serves their selfish ends. In so far as those sentiments will bring votes from other ethnic groups, they are prepared to sell decency to the dogs and walk the dangerous paths of ethnocentrism in Ghana politics.

The NPP is a political party registered by the Electoral Commission of Ghana after meeting all the constitutional requirements.

Article 55 (4) of the 1992 Constitution states “Every political party shall have a national character, and membership shall not be based on ethnic, religious, regional or other sectional divisions”.

In fact section (6) of Article 55 of the 1992 Constitution states that “An organization shall not operate as a political party unless it is registered as such under the law for the time being in force for the purpose.”

Section (7) says that “For purposes of registration, a prospective political party shall furnish the electoral commission with a copy of its constitution and the names and addresses of its national officers: and shall satisfy the commission that -

(a) there is ordinarily residence, or registered as a voter in each district of Ghana, at least one founding member of the party:

(b) the party has branches in all the regions of Ghana and is, in addition, organized in not less than two thirds of the districts of each region”

The above constitutional provisions were excellently satisfied by the NPP hence the Electoral Commission's acceptance of our registration in 1992. Mr. Kwame Pianim being a founding member is therefore only being mischievous by feeding on the so called perception when available evidence and facts clearly demonstrate otherwise. Does Mr. Pianim have a hidden agenda when he provides fuel for this so called perception of NPP being an Ashanti party? If the NDC which boldly and audaciously albeit against the spirit and letter of the 1992 Constitution declares former President Rawlings as its founder is not perceived at an Ewe party, how can NPP that has religiously conformed to the country's electoral laws be accused of being of a particular ethnic group? It is ironical that Mr. Pianim will find solace in the perceptions that have no basis and created by those whose belief in democracy can best be described as accidental.

Ghana is a unitary state and playing the ethnic card at any level of our socio-political development will be a recipe for disaster. Mr. Pianim is therefore walking the NPP on a tight rope and it obvious that the August 7th delegates' election will bring the best among the lot. The leader will definitely be elected by NPP not because he is not an Ashanti or an Akan but because he is the best candidate who is marketable, decisive, visionary and capable of helping the NPP return to power to continue the excellent policies and strategic developmental agenda Ghanaian were enjoying prior to the 2008 election.

In responding to Mr. Pianim's idiotic statements on Professor Frimpong Boateng platform I soliloquized among others that “Did he not tout Nana Addo's credential in an advertised program on TV during the second round of the 2008 election? Did he not tell Ghanaians that Nana Addo was the best thing to have happened to Ghana politics? Has he sold his conscience or is he hallucinating? What has changed since December 2008? Has he been corrupted by the NDC to become a mole in the NPP? Only time will tell”.

Mr. Kwame Pianim is at it again, ensuring that his pay master's biddings are guaranteed. This so called founding member of NPP has sold his conscience for pittance. He has “vowed” to his benefactors in the NDC to ensure that Ghanaians will be denied the presidency of the most astute politician in Ghana today - Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo. The discerning delegates of the NPP's August 7th elections will read between the lines and vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo because he the best among all the NPP aspirants who can recapture power in the 2012 election. No effusions from Mr. Kwame Pianim and his pay masters will derail the Ghanaian's quest to return the NPP to power with Nana AKuffo Addo as the president. The NPP delegate will vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo not because he is a non Ashanti, but because he has demonstrated consistency, confidence, and tenacity of purpose, loyalty and vision. Without any shade of doubt Nana Addo is currently the most revered politician in Ghana today. He has what it takes to propel the NPP to recapture power from the nonperforming President Mills' administration.

The most successful leader that the NPP tradition and its antecedents: GCPP, UP and PP have produced is President J. A Kuffour. The former president is the most important African leader today in the international arena. His dream of presidency was nurtured at a very tender age. He worked assiduously in the party, paid his dues to nation, displayed complete loyalty to the party and remain steadfast, visionary and consistent till he eventually won the hearts and minds of Ghanaian in the 2000 elections. As a president, he initiated many far reaching policies and infrastructural development. He towers many leaders on the African continent. He has left many important foot prints not only in Ghana but on the world stage. Today the whole world is hailing him with invitations to head very important global institutions and deliver speeches at important international functions. Any attempt to denigrate President J. A Kuffour with infantile claims about his stewardship of the NPP or Ghana will only create laughable impressions. Mr. Pianim's envy of J.A Kuffour's achievement is evidently exhibited in these comments. Mr. Pianim's attitude is leading to his desire to self destruct his reputation and that of others.

There are a number of elders, founding members, leaders, financiers and strategically minded members in NPP. The likes of former President Kuffour, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo, Mr. Allan Kyeremanten Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the late Mj (rtd) Courage Quarshiga, Hon. Dan Botwe, Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Nana Yaw Sarfo Marfo, Dr. Kwame Amoako Tuffour, Dr. Kwame Addo Kuffour, Mr. Odoi Sykes, Mr. B.A Mensah, Mr. Owusu Agyepong, Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, the late Da Rocha and a host of other unsung heroes whose contributions, encouragements and tenacity of purpose and reverence have propelled the NPP this far are highly acknowledged. It is important that we continue to attract the youth in order to achieve the vision of these great men. It is evident that their efforts are a great inspiration to the youth.

We shall draw hope and inspirations from these great men in diverse ways to rally behind the NPP to wrestle power from the non performing NDC government. Mr. Pianim's effusions will not distract the party from working towards the victory 2012 agenda.

Author:
Fred Amankwah-Sarfo (MBA MIS, BSc Admn)
Tel: 054 433 1324 / 024 425 5525
Email: [email protected]

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