Kufour says wasn’t easy attending Mahama’s inauguration
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor says he was put in a dilemma after receiving an invitation to attend the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama.
Mr Kufuor decided to attend yesterday’s inauguration on the basis that it was a State function despite his party’s (New Patriotic Party) boycott due to what they claim to be irregularities in the December 7, 2012 presidential polls won by President Mahama.
Early morning January 7, 2013 the residence of Kufuor was besieged by some irate supporters of the NPP to prevent him from attending the function.
The former President was, however, escorted from his house by armed police officers as they also kept the youth from getting at him, reports the Ghana News Agency.
“It was quiet difficult…it wasn’t an easy thing to attend,” Kufuor told Citi FM today January 8, 2013 in an interview monitored by ghanabusinessnews.com.
Kufuor explained that he was invited by State Protocol as a former Head of State and the event was a “State affair”.
Prior to the inauguration, Kufuor said he had already explained to the leadership of the NPP on why he is attending the event.
“I explained to the party my position to attend,” Kufuor said.
He appreciated the grief of some NPP supporters over his attendance of the inauguration but said “my heart was for the party”.
Mr Kufuor indicated his support for the NPP’s petition to the Supreme Court over the election results challenge adding “my party was treated badly during the election.”
“I support the party’s petition. It was a solid petition,” Kufuor said.
He prayed the Supreme Court will do its work honestly.
By Ekow Quandzie
The action of the former president of Ghana in attending the inauguration of the new president is a good development in modern Africa’s politics and shows our maturity, civility and development. The rest is now left for the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Yes it was gratifying to see him attend the inauguration and it showed some maturity but he could not resist that dig “my party was treated badly during the election.”
Who treated his party very badly:
The NDC,
John Mahama,
The Electoral Commission
The Foreign Observers or the Ghanaian people?
I surmise it is the discerning Ghanaian voter that could not resist the opportunity to send the NPP packing again because they failed in their bid to align themselves with the Ghanaian voter and the average person.
We await the Court’s decision with a collective bated breath. Meanwhile, we need a viable alternative to the NDC and for that reason, the NPP need to regroup and do their homework. We need a complete overhaul in attitude, public appeal and leadership. This time they failed themselves and they failed mother Ghana miserably. We cannot afford such a miserable performance next time. Ghana deserves a better responsive opposition in government.
Good luck!
A man of his statature he should have 3 things in mind. The first one is LOYALTY , SOLIDARITY and thirdly GRATEFULNESS. He should have thought of the feelings of people who made him what he is and tried to exhibit a degree of empathy which was lacking. I think Kuffuor has disgraced himslf as a SELFISH person not fit to have been voted for because what he did as a president others could have done better. ITS a SHAME
It it disgraceful to hear former president Kufuor’s comments on-and on. What a short memory hat he has. He should remember that 2004 election was declared in his favor by Jake which is criminal but he had nothing wrong with that. He was left to govern this nation to serve for his second year term. He should be told in plain language to shut up, for he does not need to comment on the election because he was no referee to the game.