AKUFO ADDO - A LEADER OF PEACE & VISION

The character of a man is best exhibited in times of adversity. Abraham Lincoln posits, nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test the real character of a person, give him power.

At a time when the peace of Ghana rested on the word of one man, the real character of Akufo Addo excellently manifested itself.

Nana Akufo Addo's character has been evidently established over the past four decades as peaceful and visionary. At every stage in his life, the man continues to show these true and honest character traits.

He is a true patriot who want an opportunity to do for his country what other visionary patriots across the world have done for theirs.

Some persons may try to define what they want to be his reputation but his character has endured and persevere. Time has vindicated him. And, that is what we are seeing with Akufo-Addo.

Although some critics have run over themselves denigrating this gem of a man, his inner constitution, sincere demeanor and expressions bear umpteenth testimony to his character as a leader of peace and vision.

The significance of his acceptance speech on the verdict of the Supreme Court on the election petition has resonated excellently with all people in Ghana and across the globe.

During the 2012 elections the tension in Ghana was at a spilling point, fear and anxiety consumed many a Ghanaian and the country seemed to be on the verge of anarchy.

The experiences of many African countries where election disagreements had resulted in conflicts with many lives lost and properties destroyed were so fresh in the minds of Ghanaians and our development partners.

But for those who knew the stuff that Akufo Addo is made of, we knew that with him as leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its presidential candidate, no violent activity was going to befall the nation even in the face of the most extreme provocation from other state actors.

Akufo Addo's love for peace, party and country is bigger than his personal desire to lead this country. His entire political career speak volumes on this.

Between 1972 and 1979, his struggle against the then Supreme Military Junta of General Kutu Acheampong & General Akuffo did not see him take up arms or support any conspiracy of violent overthrow of these illegal military regimes.

He resorted to nonviolent methods, using the courage of his conviction and unyielding patriotism and his belief in the rule of law, to push for a regime change.

Nana Addo and other leading members of this party, joined forces in using nonviolent methods to achieve a return to democratic rule.

When the SMC 1 decided to use the Union Government Concept to perpetuate its rule on Ghanaians, Akufo Addo and his colleagues used nonviolent methods in disagreeing with the military junta. He campaigned vigorously for a "No" which saw a return to civilian constitutional rule with President Limamn winning the 1979 election.

If patience is a virtue, then Akufo Addo has consistently portrayed that and as Mahatma Gandhi put it:

“If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm”

Akufo Addo has remained an extremely peaceful man and continued his nonviolent struggle to return Ghana to constitutional democracy where the free will of the people to choose their leaders could be guaranteed.

As a human right advocator, his resolve for the rule of law and not the rule of man has never been in question. When some leaders in Ghana remained acquiescent to the military regime that over threw the Dr. Hilla Limamn's Administration, the likes of Akufo Addo remained resolute in their fight to return Ghana to constitutional rule.

The overthrow of governments through coups and counter coups especially within the West Africa Sub region was insidious to peace and development, luckily for us in Ghana, Akufo Addo and his colleagues used very refined and peaceful protests to ensure that Ghana did not go along the path of our neighbors.

Although a leading figure in the formation of the New Patriotic Party, at no point in time has he assumed himself to be the only person with the right to lead the party. At all times and in all intends and purposes Akufo Addo has always offered himself to be decided on by the party delegates.

Although an extremely popular politician, a combination of bad election officers and close election margins have led to him losing two presidential polls. But as peaceful and visionary leader quitting politics for being denied twice is not for the man of his stature.

2016 must be bus year and Ghana's opportunity to finally experience what this gem of a patriot gad for his people.

Admittedly also some utterance of this man of peace and vision has been misinterpreted and exploited against him.

What come to mind are "all die be die" and “yen akan fo)."

He has never been one to turn away from a good "fight" but not with the tools of violence. His conduct and that of his party in 2012 and after the election and the election petition have convinced many that he is indeed a peaceful patriot.

Akufo Addo does not claim to be a perfect person and it would therefore, I will always support a call that these statements and others made by some leading members of the New Patriotic Party be withdrawn and apologies offerred the people of this country.

There should always be effective political communication which require that statements are made are to the understanding of the recipient in the manner that was intended.

Making a statement that has the propensity to feed into the ruthless propaganda of the NDC must be avoided in the future.

Akufo Addo, a man with clarity of thoughts, articulate and extremely confident, should be given an opportunity to serve the people of Ghana.

Those of us who are very close to him see the humility, respect and extreme circumspection that Akufo Addo brings to the table all the time.

He listens. He will be the last to speak and he takes good and sincere advice. He is not vindictive. He has shown that time and again. He is simply a honest man. A trait rare and precious in politics of today.

It is these traits that I consider very vital in bringing to the public.

Many leaders in Ghana and elsewhere have had several attempts to lead their people and failed. It is with consistency and persistency at the polls that shows the real strength of great leader.

Our own most successful President John Agyekum Kuffour succeeded on his second attempt, President John Evans Attah Mills was third time lucky at his last attempt.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, who worked tirelessly for the abolishment of slavery and strengthening the national government as well as modernizing the economy failed in many attempts to lead the people of the United States of American in its early national building stages.

When Lincoln finally became the President, he promoted rapid modernization of the economy through banks, canals, railroads and tariffs to encourage the building of factories.

An exceptionally astute politician, Lincoln has been consistently ranked both by scholar and the public as one of the greatest U.S. presidents, it was his sheer show of consistency and magnanimity and self-belief akin to the dexterity of Akufo Addo that he eventually became the 16th President of the union. If he had given up due to earlier failures the American dream may have had a different story today. The

Stein Gertrude Stein stated that “silent gratitude isn't very much to anyone”.

The people of Ghana continue to show gratitude to Akufo Addo albeit in silence. The time has come for us to portray our gratitude to him in public by voting massively for him at the polls in 2016. That vote must go beyond rigging margins. It must be massive.

Let us give the leader of peace and vision a chance to save Ghana and take us beyond this state of hopelessness and waste. Let us believe in Akufo-Addo.

There is one more hurdle to overcome, the 18th October, 2014 delegates election. Let give him another opportunity to lead the New Patriotic Party as our presidential candidate.
Thank you, respectfully.

FRED AMANKWAH - SARFO
( 0244255525 / 0544331324 )