Elikem Kwami Kotoko writes Open Letter to President Akufo Addo

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, HIS EXCELLENCY NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO
Good day your Excellency,

I sincerely hope this mail finds you well and reaches in you in good time no matter which part of the globe you find yourself at this moment. Recent happenings pertaining to lawlessness under your watch have become of great concern and worry to many citizens and I am compelled as a citizen to preform my civic rights by ensuring I bring this to your attention, Mr. President.

Sir, during your campaign you consistently touted your human rights records among others as reasons why Ghanaians ought to have hope and vote for you. Fortunately, many bought into your appeal and gave you their thumbs on that faithful day of December 7, 2016.

As you may be aware, so many things have gone wrong ever since you assumed office as president and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces of the Republic which was a very peaceful state at the time it was handed to you by the former president His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. On your first day upon assumption of office sir, you engaged in speech theft (plagiarized) of other world leaders which came with its accompanying embarrassment, your Prime Minister Osafo-Marfo came out to submit that free SHS was going to be funded from the heritage fund. Eventually he had to retract his statement when contradictory statements were thrown into the air and Ghanaian laughed over that.

Your militia groups {Delta and Invisible Forces} have become a para state institution, usurping our constitution with impunity. The judiciary was not spared in this bid of lawlessness under your leadership causing much fear and panic in all citizens, less than five months in office.

Your Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was recently involved in a very scandalous USD2.25bn bond issuance which has generated its own euphoria in every nook and cranny. Your once loud but suddenly “dumb” Vice president who could call a former president incompetent came out to accuse the minority in parliament and the opposition NDC as a bunch of ignorant politicians, further tagging them as lazy folks who don’t like to read. Today, a petition has been sent to CHRAJ and even with the presence of Bawumia your brother the Finance Minister has requested for an extra 21days to give his official response. Mr. President, please be reminded that it’s too early for your administration to be cooking such criminal acts in the seat of government. Your hands are getting soiled too early, apostle of protecting the public purse. Does it not make mockery of the competence of your men when a simple response requires an extra 21days, when this dubious bond was issued and closed in less than 5hours, and worst of all was the Attorney General’s revelation that she has no knowledge about any bond issue. Don’t also forget this was not taken to the parliament.

Nana, under your watch militia men from your party stormed a court of competent jurisdiction, assaulted security officers on duty and the judge, set free their members who were in lawful custody and on trial. This too, your Attorney General said she was not aware of the discontinuation of the case.

As we speak, the alleged killers of the late JB Danquah have also just been freed, what exactly is our dear nation being turned into under your leadership; just when the suspects have begun speaking instead they have been discharged.

Mr President, while you were in opposition, many tagged you as very violent, vindictive, careless, arrogant and a disaster should we give you the nod to be Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces. Permit me to politely tell you however that Mr. President, you have confirmed this perception hundred percent so far and the ball is in your court to prove Ghanaians wrong. Nana, leadership is not a joke, its neither an easy task especially of a country filled with very discerning citizens such as Ghana.

While in opposition you branded the appointees of President Mahama as arrogant, however, it is gradually turning out to be that your appointees instead are the most arrogant of all. Your Gender Minister Otiko Nafisa Djaba is a living example of arrogance from her vetting thru to her confirmation and discharge of duties. Agriculture Minister Akoto Afriyie is another terribly arrogant one whose demeanour alone has always been such a turn-of. He rejected being called incompetent, the very name you called president Mahama and now refer to the term incompetent as disrespectful, etc. Why is the narrative suddenly changing under your government Mr. President?

While innocent Gregory Afoko is still in remand for the murder of your former Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, Bugri Naabu, your northern Regional Chairman came out boldly to pronounce that Rockson Bukari and Otiko Djaba, Upper East Regional Minister and Gender Minister respectively were neck-deep involved in the murder of Adam Mahama. AS president, the entire world expected that you would have immediately instructed the Chief Justice to act on that and invite Bugri Naabu and the other mentioned names for questioning but no, you endorsed the arrogation of state powers by your party to hear the matter and accept an apology for this. What impudence Mr. president, we are NOT a banana republic and we shall NOT be one under your presidency.

Indeed a litany of issues are on my chest but the most worrying of all was the horrifying news the nation woke up to that one of your noble men who offered himself to protect the state, CAPTAIN MAXWELL MAHAMA of the Unit 5 Battalion of Infantry was mistaken for an armed robber and therefore lynched by the community. Honestly, the story lines emanating so far do NOT add up, and I repeat, THEY DO NOT ADD UP. I am very sure you of all is aware how sunken Ghana’s integrity has gone ever since you assumed office. Capt. Maxwell Mahama met his untimely death leaving behind two young innocent kids and a wife who is at this stage very heart broken. Your Excellency, as I am told you love to be called/addressed, as the number one gentleman you and your family are safe and under our protection but we can no longer tell how safe we are.

Please be reminded however that if this level of lawlessness which is gracing your administration is anything to go by, do not be surprised should the military gradually decide to usurp the very constitution you rode on to power and kick you out of office because law and order is completely breaking down over time. By now you are sure of the level of anger and frustration coupled with adrenaline rush in all military personnel over this murder of an innocent young service man. Simple and short, this cowardice was not in anyway an attack on an alleged armed robber, it seem to be a deliberate act to bring this officer down probably by the galamsayers (illegal miners) because the stories just don’t add up.

Ghana, West Africa, Africa and the world at large is watching your governance with keen interest and please be advised immediately to HALT the needless ECOWAS tour which is perceived to be a tour geared towards bidding for Chair of the ECOWAS, come home and put your house in order; THE CENTRE CAN NO LONGER HOLD. Better stand for something or else you will fall for anything Mr President. As a youth who is expected to take inspiration from leadership, the future presently look very bleak if this is the darkness and fear we will be living with, do NOT disappoint your ancestors, at least if not we the citizens.

Your Excellency, you cannot afford to disappoint the numerous citizens who placed their hope in you. I look forward to drastic action, justice and restoration of confidence thru law and order in the citizenry, don’t forget you CANNOT attract a single foreign investor with the present ongoing. The people of Ghana expect nothing short of JUSTICE for the late Captain Maxwell Mahama, his kids, widow and entire family as well as the military if you intend to regain their confidence as their C-i-C.

As country we MUST all #GetInvolved to remain #StrongerTogether and realise our goals are #PossibleTogether, moving forward.

Many thanks for your audience, Sir.

~Elikem Kotoko, (ek)
Youth Activist
Cc:
All Media

Blog: re4ma.wordpress.com
Twitter: @elikem31
Facebook: Elikem Kwami Kotoko
Email: erickevink@gmail.com
Cell: +233 20 907 0464
[31/05 20:23] Fred: Elikem Kwami Kotoko