Ben Ephson: Wrong move, Nana Addo

Courtesy Modern Ghana


By Malik Abass Daabu

Pollster and elections watcher Ben Ephson says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo erred in responding to allegations that he is a drug addict.

Nana Addo told NPP supporters in the Northern Region that contrary to widespread claims he uses cocaine, he has never sniffed the illegal drug and challenged his accusers to prove their allegations or forever hold their peace.

But Ben Ephson thinks it would have been prudent if Nana Addo had remained silent because, in his view, taking on people who level unfounded allegations against him can only be an unnecessary distraction.

He reminded the NPP flagbearer that despite these allegations, he lost the last election by the narrowest of margins.

The Daily Dispatch editor told Joy FM's Super Morning Show Nana Addo, like his predecessor John Kufuor and president John Atta Mills, has a huge advantage going into elections 2012 because his opponents will have nothing more to say about him.

Putting himself up for a situation where he will be in and out of court over such churlish allegations was counterproductive, Mr. Ephson observed.

He said the Ghanaian electorate had become so savvy that politicians who unjustifiably attack the reputation of their opponents and focus on the non essentials were at best ignored and at worst punished electorally.

Politics of insults and personal attacks, he stated, did not address the myriad of problems confronting the people.

Abu Jinapor, aide to Nana Addo however said all the NPP flagbearer sought to do was to set the records straight.

He said Nana Addo's political opponents who could not find any trace of corruption, malfeasance or incompetence with which to link him, deliberately and maliciously fabricated wicked lies to try and dent the man's image.

Abu Jinapor maintained the NPP flag-bearers' abiding belief is that politicians must channel their efforts and energies to debating issues of substance, adding that personal attacks didn't put food on the table of the ordinary Ghanaian.