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28.02.2017 Feature Article

The Conundrum

The Conundrum
28.02.2017 LISTEN

Do you remember who said this? “I Speak My Mind.”

Beads rattle but good beads don’t. In Akan language they say ‘Ahwenepa Nkasa.’

Professor Joshua Nkomo of John Bosco College (names and college made up)in Accra Ghana had no answer(s) as to why one of his students, Selassie Abodzo had the penchant for bullying students but most especially why he hated the College’s yet-to-be-elected Senior Prefect.

Well, it turned out Selassie had skeletons in his closet and the only person who knew about them was John Bonya. He feared John might expose him or tell others about his age-old secret, hence his behaviour.

The bully used threats and intimidation to silence his opponents. Besides, he never masked his dislike for John. But soon that harassment would fade away. John had found himself in a pole position and he could expose Selassie without any fears or looking over his shoulders. When the tables turned oud-mouthed Selassie went to the defence of his sworn foe. He spoke on John’s behalf as though he’d verbal diarrhea.

What did Selassie smell? What did he drink or what did he see?

Those were questions the students asked. With trumpet and a loud speaker in his hand ‘Apostle’ Selassie went around town, proclaiming John Bonya was the best, the honest and the finest guy he’d ever known.

Can one wail more than the bereaved?
Not really. But I think the last time I witnessed such an incident was 2016, when former President John Mahama lost his beloved mother. Mr. Bernard Allotey Jacobs the Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cried his eyes out for Mr. Mahama—clearly demonstrating his love for the president and the family for their loss. Well he is back in the news this time playing Selassie’s role.

Usually when you notice situation like that look out for the following: It’s either the person is trying to avoid an impending investigation or prosecution or simply trying to attract attention or sympathy.

A person like that can be likened to malinger. Malinger (s) are known to employ such tactics, they are like foxes they know how to scheme the game to their advantage.

Does the above narrative sound familiar?
Last year when former President Jerry John Rawlings was attacked by Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) presidential nominee for the 2016 election Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey one could hear a pin drop. Perhaps, not a single person from the Umbrella family stood up to defend their charismatic leader and founder of the party. I mean the dead silence form the NDC camp was incredibly inconceivable. Who attacks an NDC stalwart or one of their own and literally go scot-free without receiving a rebuttal or reprisal?

Dr. Lartey said Mr. Rawlings had no integrity left, adding he was corrupt and ought to be referred to as “Junior Satan’ over what he termed the former president’s ‘continuous lies being peddled ‘in the Abacha-Rawlings scandal that occurred nearly two decades ago. I stand to be corrected, I didn’t hear anybody from the NDC speak out defend him neither did the party’s communication desk issue a statement in support of their founder.

Today we’ve found a voice and a talkative from the NDC’s corner who’s speaking his mind.

The irony though, the person in question is speaking for a member from the opposing party-the NPP. Unquestionably, Mr. Allotey can speak his mind and no one can stop him. But it appears the Central Regional Chairman is speaking too much. He’s crying more than the bereaved.

“No one can gag me. I don’t think the NDC as a party will gag its members for speaking their minds.”

On Friday 27 January 2017, a former Information Minister and current Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga accused Mr. Boakye Agyarko minister of energy and petroleum of bribing the ten members on the Appointments Committee in Parliament with GHc3, 000 to bait them to approve him for the ministerial post. The alleged bribery scandal is currently under investigations.

“I speak my mind and I am an independent person that speaks his mind so I will not support wrongdoing.” Mr. Allotey said.

He explained that his defence or support for the energy minister was not to spite the minority in parliament, but he was doing so to ensure that the reputation of an innocent person wasn’t tarnished or dragged in a mud.

“I never said anything against the stance of the Minority in Parliament. I digested the issue and said I don’t believe he gave money to the committee because in my life, I hate innocent people being sacrificed. Defamation is bitter and in politics such things normally happen and we don’t have to encourage that. Let’s us be forthright.”

That sounds too good to be true. And I pray that in future when the Auditor General’s Department is looking into assets of public holders due diligence must be highly considered. The department must put its head down and look out for tell-tell signs.

But I should point out I’m enthused about the solidarity the NDC official had demonstrated towards his brother in the NPP. It gladdens my heart to see people from other side of the political divide reason like this. This is how it must be done. A true democracy must transcend partisanship, cronyism and nepotism. When we speak the truth without massaging it whatsoever, our democracy takes a deeper root and our people continue to stay united.

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