Of Lost Heads, Values

Last Monday was a sad day in the history of not only the New Patriotic Party (NPP), but the country as a whole. Our respect for the elderly suffered a major jolt when Andrew Awuni, the man who once spoke for President John Agyekum Kufuor, visited the most disparaging remarks on a venerable nonagenarian in our part of the world.

He had earlier announced the withdrawal of his deference for Nana Akufo-Addo following the suspension of Paul Afoko, National Chairman of the party, after his (Awuni’s) warped analysis of what led to the decision by the National Executive Council and now his verbal attack on the great grandfather of more decent persons than him.

Describing CK Tedam ‘as a liar’ for political expediency is crossing the red line of moral decency – anathema in our traditional milieu.

We are appalled that in his inordinate obsession to serve the cause of his master in whose office he operates as hatchet-man, Andrew Awuni would insult a man perhaps older than his father.

Even Paul Afoko, the man he is serving to the extent of losing his conscience, would be hard-pushed to pour vitriolic on CK Tedam because the nonagenarian was his father’s classmate at school.

For someone who found his way into the NPP through the late Vice President Aliu Mahama at a time when his political allegiance was doubted by many, they can now laugh last and say confidently, “We told you so.”

When people without political bases use mischief and insults to make their cases, as the one under review, we can only pray to the Almighty Creator to have mercy on them.

Andrew Awuni’s history in the Office of President Kufuor and how he exited the place at a time when he was not ready for his employer’s decision is undergirded by telltale details.

We wish to plead with the family of one of the doyens of Ghana politics to forgive Andrew Awuni who might be requiring some help to make sensible judgments.

Let us allow for a modicum of decency even as we tread the path of political mercenary.

Governments would come and go as would situations, but our culture and other constants would remain with us.

Should we lose our heads just because our preferences have eluded us? Where are our cultural values and ethos?

The unfolding episodes will make the coming days as interesting as they would be amazing, with the Awunis not ready to learn from history. Those who in past years looked fantastic with their heads on have suddenly lost this important part of their bodies.