Politics is the art of using euphemisms, lies, emotionalism and fear-mongering to dupe average people into accepting – or even demanding – their own enslavement. – Larken Rose
Some of us are not merely students or watchers of politics; we are (or rather we were) active politicians in our halcyon days – and we could argue our cases. But we were prepared to listen to our elders and share their superior wisdom. Recall: President of Legon Debating Society.
August 6th marked the first anniversary of the nightmarish helicopter crash that snuffed out the lives of eight gallant, patriotic Ghanaians (high-ranking government officials and Air Force crew; Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence; Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and MP for Tamale Central; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of NDC Samuel Aboagye former NDC parliamentary candidate; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Historians may also recall Hiroshima Day, being the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. On August 6th, 1945, the United States of America dropped the atomic bomb called “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, the last destructive act that ended the 2nd World War.
The first anniversary of the 8 victims was held at the UPSA Auditorium. Again, it was a day to honour the eight victims in an interfaith service. What happened to the 8 gallant men in the helicopter at Sikaman in the Adansi area and what might have happened to their individual families? We recall John Donne’s poem (1624): “No man is an island Entire of itself; Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main…
Any Man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. President Mahama, addressing the forum in a tribute, hinted: “This tragedy represents a deep personal loss.” Of course, Dr. Omane was his close political ally.
It was fittingly described as a “national tragedy” and we were expecting to see all sides of the political divide attending. We looked around for NPP figures. We espied Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Chairman of NPP Council of Elders. We recall Abraham Lincoln for saying: “A nation that does not honour its heroes will not long endure.” Or put another way, “A nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for.” And it was a common menace that took the 8 to the forests at Adansi – to work out a strategy for community mining as a step to kill “galamsey”.
And President Mahama noted: “Today should also be a moment of reflection for all of us who are entrusted with leadership, that every decision we make affects lives”.
Surprisingly, the NPP selected the same August 6th for the demonstration dubbed: “Democracy Under Attack”. They accused President Mahama’s NDC of weaponizing state institutions, targeting political opponents and suppressing free speech.
The placards read: “Democracy is not a crime”. “Third Term Agenda by Mahama Unconstitutional”, “Galamsey Ahan” …
The government allowed the demonstrators into the grounds at Jubilee House. Respecting the Ghanaian democracy, the President released a presidential staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah to leave the memorial grounds to go to the Jubilee House to receive the petition from the NPP. Someone suggests that the government should have dispatched Appiah Stadium to go and receive the petition.
Afenyo-Markin, NPP Minority Leader would not deliver the petition himself but gave it to a lady to hand it over to Ms. Jantuah. In a short speech, Afenyo-Markin stated: “Why is Wontumi in jail? When the Chief Justice of the Republic is fired without cause, democracy comes under attack, where ordinary Ghanaians expressing their views on governance issues are arrested and jailed, democracy is considered to be under attack…”
Of course, democracy should be seen in the words of US President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, the Gettysburg Address (when he honoured the soldiers that sacrificed their lives) so that “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth”. Sure, true democracy gets its power from citizens, run by citizens, and should protect and serve the interests of citizens.
But “timing” is vital for the success of any man’s action, that is “when” the action happens and simply not just what you “do” – the policy strategy; we do not deceive ourselves into believing that justice and political strategy beautifully align. But if the present crop of all-knowing NPP hierarchy will not listen to political wisdom, some of us will stand by and watch them.
In the words of a member of the Volta Regional Communication Team: “The NPP cannot opportunistically weaponise the rhetoric of democracy as a political fortress. True democracy guarantees the rule of law, not political immunity; it ensures equality before the law, not aristocratic privilege or partisan elites…”
Would we chew on the 1670 English culinary phrase: what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, or the earlier (1562) variation: “As deep drinketh the goose as the gander”; OR the Charles Dickens’s: A Tale of Two Cities: “For you cannot sarse the goose and not the gander. Call these parisian or isocolon.
The same rules, treatment, judgment ought to apply equally to different people. Of course, we cherish freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and Article 21 (1992 Constitution) specifies these. Thus, we cannot and will not do “equalisation”. We must grow our democracy. Do not say Akufo-Addo called Atta Mills “Simpa Panin” or “Dr. Do Little”. Do not say NDC people called the group running Akufo-Addo’s government the “Akyem Mafia” or “Akyem Sakawa”.
Jesus Ahoofe recalls his arrest under Nana Akufo-Addo: “I had prophesied that somebody would die, I was arrested and detained for seven days and placed in the same cells with others alleged to have killed someone in Bechem. After a trial running over a year, I was acquitted and discharged… Rev. Owusu Bempah prays: “…NPP is gone, never to rise again, foolish people …”
We leave the NPP to run their affairs as they please and give ourselves time to mourn our great friend and brother, Kofi Danquah, who breathed his last on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
Kofi Danquah was a Customs Officer par excellence, and a teacher and guardian. No better words can be used to describe this veteran officer than the words of another noble Customs Officer, M. Opoku Boamah, in his Danquah’s book, “Indirect Taxation, Customs Procedures and Shipping Practice”, thus: “I have known the author of this book for decades and I have known him to be very industrious and innovative.
The author of this book joined the Customs and Excise Department at a very tender age, and after exhibiting great interest in the work which saw him working in almost all the sections in the Customs Department rose through the ranks to occupy several important management positions including the Commandant of the Customs Academy, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Tema Port on two different occasions and the Assistant Commissioner in charge of a number of regions in the Ghana Customs administration.
He worked for several years as the Training Manager of the Customs Training Branch where he trained the majority of the personnel, both Senior and Junior Officers. He has no doubt, over the years, contributed immensely in the reshaping of the Customs Service in Ghana…”.
Kofi would have been 80 on 16th August this year, but he would have waited until the 18th when ours fell – and we would have celebrated the day together, just as we used to do when we were the Oga at Tema. Words have deserted us… Sleep well, Kofi.
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