A LETTER TO NANA ADDO

Dear Nana Addo,

I was filled with so much joy upon knowing that you are back after about 6 months away in what people have termed ‘political leave’. First and foremost I want to thank God for your life and good health.

Well I believe that by now you know what almost every Ghanaian is expecting from you, that is whether or not you would contest in 2016. Arguably I believe it is the most anticipated announcement in Ghana now.

I believe you are aware that most of your party faithful would want to see your face on the ballot sheet for the third time come 2016, at least judging by the response and reception you received in Kumasi recently. But I guess you are equally open to the possibility that others would oppose such a move. It would only be fair, I guess. Well for some of us, we are in the middle.

Nana, while you were away, I took to facebook like I always have and I prayed that while you were out there interacting with your Lord –The Battle is The Lord’s - , like you always say, the response would be; “My son, you have fought a good fight, now you can take a rest”. But it appears my prayers might not have been answered and that the Lord said otherwise. Of course you have not spoken on the matter since your return but Mustapha Hamid – your right hand man- has. And I must say my fear has been intensified.  I am told you plan to break your silence on the matter on Thursday. Well between now and then I believe you have enough time to consider what I have to tell you too.

Sire, much as I would love to see you become President of this country, I believe respectfully that you should not contest in 2016. I say this not because I smell doom, far from that. I have clearly thought through and weighed both sides carefully and believe that there is no point in you running again for President. Honestly, I do not think you have anything to prove to anybody in this country again. You have seen it all and you have done it all. You have been there at every point in our democratic journey, through the struggle to where we are today. Today if Ghana is still called the bastion of African democracy then I think you own a share in that achievement. From the time of “kumi preko”, through to the end of military rule, to the fight for transparent election, to the struggle for transparent ballot boxes, the request for biometric machines, you name it; a certain Akuffo Addo has always been mentioned. Your legal prowess is still one that’s admired by many especially your enemies.

And respectfully I do not believe it is your birth right to be President despite your father being one; hence it is not something you should be so desperate for. Besides it wouldn’t in any way make you a failure. Again I don’t think you hold a magic wand in your hand such that you can transform Ghana in a second. And so I believe you would go through the same system as anyone has, the same corrupt officials, the same corrupt politicians, the same mediocre citizens and what have you. Therefore it’s not so much about you or who is the president, it’s about all of us, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do a good job though.

Honestly you are a really strong person. Your credibility has always been questioned but the strong Nana Addo has always come clean. The drugs allegations, your enviable school life etc have all been challenged but you have always been firm and focused. The recent was your ‘violent nature’, so they said, giving various meanings to your harmless ‘All Die Be Die’ and wearing it war regalia and stocking it with arms just so they would be vindicated. But what happened? You proved everybody wrong; you turned to the law like you always have. In the end you lost, but you made sure peace and the democracy of Ghana won. For that, the world all over applauded and commended you. And so my little advice would be to leave the stage when the applaud is loudest.

Nana all that said, I believe that your decision not to contest would be in the best interest of your party as well. It is obvious there have been divisions in recent times and there still is. I think this is the time for you to settle. As selfless as you have always been I expect you to step down and openly declare your support for any candidate the party nominates and I assure you the results would be worth it. I honestly believe the power to unite your party currently is in your hands and yours alone. You can do it now or forever deepen the rift in your party.

I am aware you have never been afraid of defeat, at least I know that of every great leader and certainly you are one. But a third defeat, I fear would not be too easy to accept especially when it happens like it did in 2012, so many electoral challenges. The sad truth is, not so much would change in 2016.

Well we can all pretend we don’t care about your age, and go about singing the ‘age doesn’t matter’ song, but the truth is it does. It really does. You would be 71 by 2016 I guess and we all know you may not be as strong as before or perhaps now. So I believe it is in your interest and the interest of your party and Ghanaians at large that you do not contest. If it is just about service to your nation like I believe it is, then I guess you can still do that on the sidelines even though I concede it is best done leading the park.

…..Considering what I have said so far Sire, may you do me the honor of reading this for me come Thursday,

 “ Fellow Ghanaians, I have carefully thought about my political future. I have spoken to my Lord and have consulted a few, I am aware some people would want to see me retire from politics. But I am also delighted and fulfilled that a good number want to see me contest in 2016. I want to say a very big thank you to everybody. We have all made Ghana a better place. It has always been about service to this great nation and I think I have done just that. I know this is hard and difficult but I believe that is where we have come today. I have decided that I would stand down and allow somebody else to represent our party come 2016 and I have every hope that the NPP would come back to power in 2016. I entreat all of you to fully support whoever is chosen by the party.

I want to thank everybody for the support and encouragement and most importantly I want to thank God for how far He has brought us.

KUKRUDOOOOO!!!!!!! KUKRUDOOOOOO!!!!!!”

I am hopeful my letter would be duly considered. I would equally be disappointed if you read anything to the contrary on Thursday.

Yours faithfully,

Karim, Unda Gh