Someone who had watched Alex Segbefia, the deputy chief of staff at Ghana's seat of government, the Osu Castle, on a television programme recently, made a rather unprintable comment, and smiled wryly afterwards - which got me laughing heartily.
Recounting to me, what had transpired on host C.K. Ohene's morning newspaper review programme, on TV Africa, he dismissed what he called Segbefia's "self-serving" advice to Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings' side, of the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) two factions, with the pithy phrase: "He would say that, wouldn't he?"
He pointed it out to me, that the selfsame Segbefia, was the Osu Castle spin-doctor, who had claimed a private company had sponsored a junketing trip by NDC government appointees and their cronies, on a Ghana Air Force plane, to watch a football match at Abidjan - yet, it was to emerge later, that in fact taxpayers had had to pay for the landing fees at Abidjan airport.
He went on to ask if I hadn't heard the bush-telegraph story, that whiles some of his colleagues were openly putting up properties in Ghana, the clever Sebgefia and the much-talked-about Carl Wilson, were said to be building theirs instead, in faraway Benin Republic.
He wasn't sure, and doubted, if it was true that he actually had a project in the Benin Republic - but that such rumours existed at all, summed Sebgefia's position up perfectly, in his view: he was a political liability, not an asset, for the Mills administration. And he is not alone in that regard, either. The Osu Castle is swarming with them!
Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings' challenge for the right to represent the NDC in the December 2012 presidential election, in my friend's view, is godsend for Ghana and President Mills.
According to him: "With people like Segbefia, who in any serious nation would have resigned his position, or would have been fired long ago by the president, surrounding President Mills at the Castle, Nana Konadu's challenge is the perfect kick in the pants the Mills administration needs - to wake up from its deep anti-corruption slumber."
He was hoping President Mills would now sit up, and start firing all the self-seekers, whose greed and selfishness, is ruining the reputation of the hard-working regime of a president, who paradoxically, is the most honest and most selfless individual to lead Ghana: since Nkrumah's overthrow in February 1966.
It is extraordinary that the Mills administration's many PR geniuses, have failed to grasp the true significance of Nana Konadu's challenge to President Mills.
Since the government's PR folk are so brilliant at their job, let this senile old fool point it out to them, that Nana Konadu's challenge, far from being negative, actually represents a golden opportunity to add yet more positive narratives, to that of the development projects galore nationwide, narrative.
Incidentally, for their information, I am aware that some of the smart-Alecs in that large army of regime PR geniuses, often mock me.
Apparently, I am so stupid that I openly offer good free advice, which clever people would charge thousands of dollars in consultancy fees for - and presumably dish out "chop-chop-kickbacks" to those in the Mills regime, who are dissipating taxpayers' money in the award of sundry "public awareness" consultancy contracts. Hmm, Ghana - eyeasem oo: asem kesie ebeba debi, ankasa!
Well, it's a mea culpa then - let them mock me as much as they can. Its all like water off a duck's back for me - as I am a man who has no ego, and who also has a sense of humour that is self-deprecating.
And, more importantly, the world can judge between the rubbish I write regularly, and the brilliant job they have done thus far, for President Mills - who despite being the most honest, in addition to being one of the humblest, most selfless and hardest working leaders we have had since independence, has such a poor image, which he most certainly does not deserve, amongst millions of ordinary Ghanaians: thanks to their sheer brilliance! (Dear God, give me patience, please. Amen!)
Do they not see that the whole nation is focused on their party, as a result of Nana Konadu's challenge - and that they can exploit it effectively? And does that not dull the message of the "Enkoyie Brigade" some what?
Furthermore, who can say today that the NDC is not a broad church, of differing views and competing interests, like any other political party - and thus a clear sign to all, that it has finally become a normal mass political organisation, through which a coalition of different interests come together of their own volition, to seek political power, in free and fair elections, in our stable democracy?
Has it not dawned on them yet, that Nana Konadu's challenge, if handled cleverly by the Mills campaign team, is an opportunity for the regime to renew itself - and acquire a better and more positive image for President Mills (who certainly deserves it for his hard work, selflessness, humility and honesty!) and his much-maligned regime?
(Let me humbly caution the good people around the president, that if they want all the above to happen, they ought to find world-class political strategists and consultants to help them in that exercise - and under no circumstances must trhey rely solely on the administration's PR geniuses!)
Let me also tell the Mills regime's PR geniuses a little secret: they may be geniuses, but they do not have the brains to trip Kofi Thompson up - ever. I am not a fool for nothing, they should know. I have a reason for it!
Far smarter folk than they are, have tried in the past, but failed to trip me up. Let them concentrate on the work they are paid so handsomely by the hapless taxpayers of Ghana to do - and do it with some world-class competence for a change: before it becomes too late for their politically complacent regime. Nana Konadu has given their regime and party, as well as Nkrumah's Ghana, a golden opportunity.
Let them quickly figure that one out for themselves - as there will be no free consultancy they can look up my blog for, in this instance. This senile old fool has had enough of their juvenile antics.
Finally, a note of caution: They must be careful. I happen to be a man with an inclination to helping the underdog. Their infernal cheek, could yet make me decide to offer my free consultancy services, to Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings - and I shall definitely not do so openly on my blog, either!
The only thing that is stopping me, thus far, is that her Kofi Adams is cast in much the same mould as they are.
But I may yet do so - as an intellectual exercise and for the sheer kick I shall derive from jolting a complacent set of naïve politicians, out of their stupor. Let them beware - I am not nearly as foolish as I appear to be! A word to the wise...
Tel (powered by Tigo - the one mobile phone network in Ghana that actually works!): + 233 (0) 27 745 3109.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Thanks For Helpful Information
penny bids
Post a Comment