AN OPEN LETTER TO GHANA’S FIRST LADY MRS. NAADU MILLS

Your Excellency, I shall go straight to the point. There are many independent-minded Ghanaians, whose sense of patriotism made them vote for your husband, our current president, during the run-off of the December 2008 presidential election. Ordinarily, a majority of those discerning Ghanaians, would never consider voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) – but they did so because they understood clearly during the December 2008 election, that our nation had reached a defining moment: when Ghana had to elect an honest leader; to ensure that revenue from our oil and natural gas deposits did not eventually end up in the hands of a powerful few with greedy ambitions. If we are to transform our country into an African equivalent of the egalitarian societies of Scandinavia, it is crucial that we do not allow our elite to have the opportunity to follow the example of Nigeria’s kleptocratic elite: and loot the national treasury.


Manye, the recent altercation on Radio Gold FM between Mr. Herbert “I-have-nothing-to-lose” Mensah, and Mr. Ato “The-candidate-was-delusional” Awhoi, shows clearly that you must take an active interest in your husbands presidency – as it is important that he has an independent ally: who has no secret agenda, and whom he can seek counsel from, from time to time. Please let him do what Nigeria’s late leader President Yaradua did when he first came to power: declare his personal net worth publicly. After some of us had constantly badgered Dr. Amoako Tufuor to persuade him to do so, President Kufuor promised, during his swearing in at the Independence Square in January 2001, that he would publicly declare the assets of both himself and his wife. Sadly, he did not do so – and we all know how corrupt his regime eventually became. I am pretty sure that those around your husband will tell the president not to do so, as they themselves do not want to do so. However, in view of recent developments within your National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, it is vital that your husband publicly declares both your assets, now – especially as it still not too late politically for him to do so.


Taking that courageous step will make his position in the NDC and in the country at large unassailable politically. There is nothing in the constitution that bars him from doing so – and if ever there was the political equivalent of a comprehensive insurance policy, guaranteed to keep at bay, those who want to see the back of him (and are now biding their time, and await their hour!), it is the simple act of publicly declaring yours, and his, personal net worth. Manye, just ponder for a moment, and ask yourself, whom amongst the arrogant hypocrites who are harrying him (and are now so bold that they do not even bother to hide their animosity towards him!), would have the moral courage to declare their own personal net worth to Ghanaians. I am sure that both Mr. Ato “The-candidate-is-delusional” Awhoi and Mr. Herbert “I-have-nothing-to–lose” Mensah mean well, and have your husband’s best interest at heart, in their own way – but I doubt very much if they are more loyal to your husband than you yourself are. Above all, I doubt very much if they would think it politic for your dear husband to do the one thing that will provide him with protection that even a thousand Lt. Col. Dovlo Larteys; Brigadier General Nunoo Mensahs; and the entire Military High Command, cannot possibly give him: publicly declaring both your assets! Your Excellency, please persuade President Mills to publicly declare both your assets, as soon as it is practicable to do so. If he does so, he will never experience the terrible fate that befell President Hilla Limman (of blessed memory!). A word to the wise…


Tel (powered by Tigo – the one mobile phone network in Ghana that actually works): + 233 (0) 27 745 3109 & the not-so-hot and clueless Vodafone wireless smartfone: + 233 (0) 30 2976238.