"Akomea Will Be A Liability To NPP�s 2012 Campaign"

A political science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kwesi Amakye has described as disappointing, the response by the opposition NPP's flag-bearer on calls for him to sack his Director of Communications, Nana Akomea. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party flag-bearer, says Nana Akomea was the victim rather than the aggressor in the altercation on Joy FM's Newsfile at the weekend that led to the use of insulting language. But Mr. Amakye says �If Nana Addo believes that Nana Akomea is a victim; we are not looking at it that way. We are looking at Nana Akomea�s contribution to political insults and we are looking at NPP�s responsibility towards fighting this menace�. On Saturday August 6 2011, Nana Akomea and Deputy Tourism Minister James Agyenim Boateng on Joy FM�s current affairs programme Newsfile engaged in a heated debate using harsh words against each other while commenting on allegations that government intends to bribe journalists to embellish stories to favour its bid to retain power in 2012. The two gentlemen have since refused to retract the unfortunate words they voiced out and apologise to each other. However, Nana Akufo-Addo in an interview with Joy FM said he has no reason to sack Nana Akomea for his conduct. While condemning politics of insults, the NPP flag-bearer noted that he cannot act unilaterally if the NPP, as a party, has not come to a decision to sack Nana Akomea. But speaking on Asempa FM on Tuesday, Kwesi Amakye observed that the contribution of Nana Akomea as Director of Communications for the NPP to politics of insults would affect NPP's chances of winning power in 2012. He noted that Nana Akomea would be a liability to the NPP campaign in 2012 with the unrepentant position he has taken over the incident. �Many people are not going to take him seriously. He is unrepentant, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah gave him the opportunity two days after the incident but he said we are not going to apologise�. Mr. Amakye stated that the political parties have the responsibility to fight this whole menace because if the verbal insults degenerate, people will resort to physical means to attack their opponents. He urged leaders to take a strong view of the insults that are taking over the civil, political discourse in the country. �Ghana is still looking for a political party that would deliver an effective political leadership. I believe 2012 is going to be decisive and all these would come to play� Kwesi Amakye observed.