NANA ADDO DANQUAH AKUFFO ADDO MUST GO FOR A DRUG TEST

In the present climate of systematic opinions expressed by both the good people of Ghana and foreigners about the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (N.P.P) Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo’s alleged heavy usage of dangerous drugs, we would request him to justly subject himself to be tested by a competent medical laboratory to clear all doubts about his alleged habit of drug usage.

The fight against the use of drugs, and especially drug addiction, has become a priority of many nations and world leaders, and Ghana must not be an exception.

We have pensively thought of the grave consequences and implications that await us as a nation should a leader who is alleged to be a narcotic drug user by both local and the international community ascends to the highest office of this country with such allegations hanging.

Mr. Wayo, founder of the United Renaissance Party, noted that the burden of proof lies with the NPP flag bearer, adding that this long awaited response is a show of mere African bravado. “It is his (Nana Addo`s) job to prove that he is not a drug addict“ Wayo, reiterated his call for such a drug test to be carried out by an institution like the USA Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Daily Post’s Michael Dokosi who also share similar concerns that Nana Akuffo-Addo is a drug addict and was allegedly arrested at the J.F.K International Airport for possession of drugs has challenged Nana Addo to go to court for character assassination since he knows Nana has been a heavy wee smoker. Why Nana Addo has not press legal charges against Mr. Michael Dokosi, instead of playing the “who accuses must prove” game is something that baffles some of us.

According to a Wikileaks cables document, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, the Editor-in-Chief of the Insight Newspaper admitted that he has personal knowledge of Nana Akuffo Addo’s drug use, but that it was not cocaine. Quoting Kwesi Pratt “Nana used to smoke a lot of marijuana, and I’m telling you, a lot. Even in the morning, there used to be a cloud around him and you could see that he was high. But I never saw him do cocaine, and I think that is just an assumption people made.”

Dr. Kwesi Aning, a researcher at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has been reported to have also made his voice known that “Akufo-Addo had used drugs in his younger days, but that was now “under control.” He went further to suggest, “you can check with German intelligence on that.”

More revealing from Nana Addos newphew Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko in his unsurprised affirmation in his statement, “The majority of Ghanaians below the age of fifty have been exposed to wee use, one way or the other. Even if Nana Akufo-Addo, who grew up in the flower, liberal age of the funky sixties in both England and Ghana, had experimented with grass, like many students do, what in modern PR tactics informed the NDC that they could win by tagging the man, who carries the tag ‘yenim wo firi titi’, as a dangerous, hopeless, reckless drug abuser?”

It is alleged that former US ambassador, Pamela Bridgewater, profiled Nana Akufo Addo before the 2007 flagbearership contest of the NPP among 17 candidates ahead of the 2008 general elections as follows: “Nana Akufo-Addo: An ethnic Akyem from the Eastern Region, is a formidable contender for the NPP slot. He is respected for his intelligence, political family background, and broad government experience, which includes tenures as Minister of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is reportedly backed by NPP youth and Akyem businessmen. On the other hand, he has poor organizational skills and often comes across as arrogant and formal, which may not play well with many party activists and Ghanaian voters. His reputation as a womanizer and occasional marijuana smoker may also damage him politically.”

There seems to be too many alleged incriminating comments made against Nana AkuFfo Addo giving us a signal that, there is danger ahead of us should we consent to an alleged narcotic drug user who is also surrounded by people who have been arrested and convicted for dealing in drugs to lead Ghana as the President.

It is interesting to note that Ex-convicts such as Amfo-Kwakye, a cousin to Nana Akufo-Addo who was arrested for dealing in drugs and jailed for 5 years in prison, Raymond Amankwah, a brother- in-law of Nana Akuffo Addo who is now serving a jail term in Brazil for trafficking cocaine into that country, George Adu Bonsu popularly known as Benjilo, who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on charges of dealing in narcotic drugs in 1997, and many other drug barons are alleged to be his close confidantes.

Mention has also been made about some missing diplomatic passports during the tenure of Nana Akuffo Addo as Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, one of which allegedly found its way into the hands of Raymond Amankwah.

It is sad to note that Ghanaians use marijuana more than five times the world’s average, which earned Ghana the position of being the leader of African countries and third in the world in cannabis or marijuana usage according to the 2007 World Drug Report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

In the wake of King Ayisoba’s disturbing remarks that great legends are drug users; and the frightening UN drug report on Ghana, we think the future of the youth of this country is at risk as far as drug usage is concerned, and it is for this reason that the Youth Coalition for National Interest is serving notice to Nana Addo Akuffo to opt for a voluntary drug test in his own interest and the greater interest of Ghana. He must assure Ghanaians with a scientific proof that his being tagged with drug usage is mere allegations.

YoCNI is calling on the general public especially well wishers of Nana Addo to join forces with us by signing a nationwide petition calling on Nana Addo to go for a drug test.

Stand up and be on the better side of history by joining the “Nana Addo Must go for a drug test” campaign to safe guide the future of the Ghanaian youth.