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Sooner than later, Ghanaians will go to the polls with a choice to make definitely between incumbent President, John Dramani Mahama and the twice defeated main opposition leader Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.

While politics should be issue- based, the polarization of the Ghanaian political dynamics meant that the choice this time is between one perceived by opponents as leading a corrupt government and the other generally considered “fantastically violent” and divisive -credit David Cameron.

So, in a few months, Ghanaians will have to make a choice between two evils with the lesser evil certainly going to lead Ghana for the next 4-year term.

Ghana in the eyes of the world is a peaceful and stable country where rule of law, press freedom, respect for the right of individuals, equality, and social justice prevail, thanks to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kuffour and the son of the Jakpa warrior, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.

Of interest is the criticism of how corrupt the current government led by John Mahama is and how desperate there is the need to change the baton of leadership come Nov. 7.  If what happened during previous governments is anything to go by, what guarantee there is that a change of government will stop corruption in public service?

If we should use similar benchmark to measure others seeking the highest office of the land, we may probably admit that not all that glitters is gold. Do I hear my spirit say Nana Akufo Addo is incorruptible? Why then? If my memory serves me right, was it not under Nana’s watch as Attorney General that the GNPC Drill Ship was sold without proper documentation?

Could it be said also that the NPP has experienced its most corrupt internal structures under the leadership of Nana Akufo Addo? Campaign funds for the 2012 presidential elections have so far not been fully accounted for.

Prudential Bank at a point threatened to sell the party’s headquarters to defray some of the whopping GHC 2 million debts facility which some leading members allegedly claimed to have been misused by Nana Akufo Addo and his 2012 campaign team.

National Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong were suspended just for seeking accountability for funds misappropriated in the party. There were allegations of misappropriation of funds by John Boadu during the Talensi by-election and before then, a Gh¢5000  reportedly given to Yvonne Nelson to support the infamous “Dumsor Vigil”.

This later turned out to be false as the beautiful actress vehemently denied receiving money from John Boadu. These instances of gross corruption could not be investigated. But then, with the gross corruption written all over the NPP under his leadership resulting in NPP MPs refusal at a point to contribute funds to the party leadership, can we also say Nana Akufo Addo is corrupt? Please do not get me wrong, your guess is as good as mine is.

However, the most compelling issue which will inform the November 7 elections is the public opinion that the NPP leader is “ Fantastically violent and divisive”. Having known Nana’s demeanor, I beg to differ. 

But then, the overwhelming statistics of violence and divisive tendencies under his leadership seem to dwarf my personal view of the most vilified opposition leader in Africa.

Some say most dangerous which view I honestly do not share. But I wished Nana Addo could be the  Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe of Uganda’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Raila Amollo Odinga of Kenya, Julius Malema of South Africa, and Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who are more powerful and influential opposition leaders yet very peaceful.

Nana Addo is yet to apologize for the infamous” All Die be Die” mantra and Ghanaians have not forgotten and forgiven him for that . Under his leadership, the Upper East regional Chairman, Mahama Adams was murdered.

The party national office became  a security threat to the country with violent clashes. The Invisible Forces and Bolga Bull Dogs were resourced to dole out violent justice to those who do not tow a certain line. 

You could be assured of a tragedy of violent justice and spill of blood of innocent partisans whenever there is a disagreement. The case of Kwabena Agyapong comes to mind. Thirty-seven years old  Abubakar Saddiq was murdered at the NPP constituency office in Asawase, in the Ashanti Region over the suspension of Paul Afoko.

More recently, a party leading member Baah Acheamfour was brutally beaten by NPP thugs during a live radio program in the studios of Fox FM; the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, doled slaps on the Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwaah with scores of leading members including the acting National Chairman applauding the awful act. 

Paul Afoko has just exposed that Nana Akufo Addo stopped the disciplinary actions proposed to be taken against some leading members who preached tribal violence. Good old Nana has also failed to disassociate himself from the unsavory statement made by Yaw Osafo Marfo to the effect that some regions should be marginalized in an NPP government for their lack of natural resources.

Now that the elected party executives, Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyapong and Sammy Crabbe have been unjustly suspended and are now history, Nana and his trusted allies are having a field day in a divided party.

Those who are perceived to be Kuffuor loyalists are now targeted for alienation, even founding fathers--- Kojo Mpianim, Wereko Brobbey, Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe to name but a few. Nii Noi Nortey who previously won the Klottey Korley primaries has been stripped off under mysterious circumstances with lawyer Phillip Addisson, the “ Pink Sheet lawyer” an avowed Nana Addo loyalist given the nod. In similar mafia style, the NPP “Guardian Angel” was protected to win the Ablekuma West primaries even when the constituency executives resigned in protest. “They can go to hell, this is our NPP”.

One thing thusly became certain under Nana’s leadership of the NPP. Either bow to those who wield the power and pray to bask in their glory, or run to the farthest ends of the earth and hide yourself.

Even colonial masters, Britain is not left out of the NPP attack as the party leading member, Maxwel Kofi Jumah described the High Commissioner as a “fool” and questioned the British government for sending a “fool” to Ghana. This could have created a diplomatic mess elsewhere all because Nana Akufo Addo must be President at all cost.

Ouch! I may have forgotten the Serbian and South African mercenaries who were imported by the NPP to train footsoldiers in military drills. For what? Violence rebellion?

But in a country with loud and politically sassy communicators like Felix Ofosu Kwakye, Sam George, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Koku Anyidoho, Twum Boafo and even babies with sharp teeth like me, the Ghanaian Police and Military have a lot of work on their hands to protect us all should Nana Akufo Addo win the November 7 elections. 

There is not even a single doubt in my mind that come November 7, Ghanaians will vote with the destiny of Ghana in their minds. We have a responsibility to promote the rule of law, respect for all, peaceful co-existence in diversity and other measures to prevent conflict during and after the elections.

Inasmuch as I support change that will eventually divorce my marriage to high electricity bills, a change that will not guarantee the peace, and stability we currently enjoy is not a positive change.

So as we go to the November polls, we are compelled to vote for the lesser of the two evils—the “perceivably corrupt” Mahama and the “fantastically violent and divisive” Akufo Addo. If I were you, I would go for the lesser of the two evils else, God will have to work overtime to keep us all safe and peaceful.

I now believe the Chronicle’s Kofi Koomson when he said he could not afford to sleep with his eyes closed if Akufo-Addo became president. “No, no, no; it’s not safe, it’s not safe…I cannot sleep with Akufo Addo as President!!…” Koomson once lamented.