Feature: Unbelievable the ‘hard’ Wontumi crying?

“Sweet not always” – A novel by Karen van der Zee.

– An inscription on a tro-tro vehicle.

INCROYABLE (Unbelievable) Antwi Boasiako, a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi literally (not figuratively) crying? “Seesei dee me nye Ghana-ni bio”. A “Prime Minister”, a “Governor” crying? “Ghanafoo, monsore (2x), NPP foo monsore (2x)…” Arise, Ghanaians, arise NPP members… He cunningly draws the sympathy of Ghanaians and NPP sympathisers to “arise” – for what? Since “it is because of you that I am being harassed by Mahama – because I campaigned for NPP, and because I am gunning for NPP National Chairmanship: M’accounts’ koraa mode mo nsa ato so… menya sika ntua me mma school fees … m’aye Minister da, …? (My accounts have been frozen… I don’t have money to pay my children’s school fees; have I ever been a Minister?”

And the above drama played out on Friday, 23rd May when the Police and operatives of the National Security stood at the gates of Wontumi’s house to “arrest” him after he had failed to heed the invitation to the CID headquarters in Accra. Wontumi justified the absence on grounds of sickness.

The media space including social media was awash with intriguing comments and observations. Many could not understand the “raid” in Wontumi’s house by the Police or the operatives of the National Security. This is damnable, given our present democratic dispensation … some recall the part of the National Anthem which enjoins us “… and help us to resist oppressor’s rule…” Was it a show of power? OR was it diversionary tactics? AND was government playing to the gallery?

How dare anybody face somebody who has access to power and says “…when John Mahama is coming to Kumasi, he needs my permission…” What! And NPP supporters did not hear this? A Christian singing: “won a adepa ba a wokye di no, eka ba a won ara na ekye tua (Those benefitting from a windfall should suffer the penalty thereof).

St. Sark, the General Overseer of Open Arms Ministry says: “Wontumi is reaping what he has sown… Your cup is full; you are reaping what you sowed when NPP was in power. There’s no way you will get help and you know personally that the party will not help you”.

At Royal TV, Boyz-Boyz would argue: “The sensible ones in NPP did not heed the call… Because of money, Wontumi gets swollen-headed and assumes to be more sensible than all others… Some of the people he (Wontumi) is urging to “arise” have died… On his Wontumi TV, he would behave foolishly…” The obvious question is: When he was “enjoying” did he invite NPP members? And when he was boasting on TV with bars of gold with children dying from Kwashiorkor, did he reckon that the day of accountability would one day arrive? Whilst Wayoosi urges: “When you get a position, don’t bluff!”, Kofi Nti, ex-NPP Constituency Chairman of Fomena, yells: “Whoever follows Wontumi is also a criminal … the “neophytes” in NPP must show respect to the “elders.”

I went to the city and started as a shoe-shine boy, and gradually built myself up… Wontumi insulting the sensibilities of “poor” NPP members, and the NPP stronghold of Ashanti cannot boast of a Regional Party Office – renting places for meetings… And Wontumi seeks to be NPP National Chairman wouldn’t that be a travesty of justice? “A-Plus recalls being “chased” by Wontumi, and angrily charges at him: “Now, you want “Ghanaians” to buy adult diapers for you because your tummy is running…?” Solomon Owusu, calls the invitation for Wontumi’s support “populist tactics… NPP created a class society … the call is unwarranted…”

Akufo-Addo, as President, had given a clean bill of health to Akonta Mining: “Here was a President who had promised Ghanaians: ”…I am prepared to put my presidency on the line to wipe out galamsey…”

Some people are asking: “How committed was President Nana Akufo-Addo in stamping out illegal mining?” Nana Akufo-Addo’s own Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Abu Jinaper, had charged Wontumi’s Akonta Mining to leave the Nimri Forest and had, for good reason, refused to issue a licence to him, and the President stands on a platform to say “Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining … as we speak,” What about “before he spoke”? God in his own infinite wisdom (His omniscience) may have designed it. Ghanaians may have been “lucky” to have a change in government.

Some people think the arrogance, impunity, disrespect, corruption, aggrandizement in NPP during Akufo-Addo’s eight-year rule were disarming and unpardonable. We are not saying everything is rosy about the NDC. The NPP had to be shown the red card, to stay back and learn lessons in humility. Mahatma Gandhi says: “It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the stronger might weaken and the wisest might err.”

And Mother Teresa admonishes us; “These are the few ways we can practice humility: Speak as little as possible of one’s self; mind one’s own business; Not to want to manage other people’s affairs; Avoid curiosity; Accept contradictions and correction cheerfully; Pass over the mistakes of others; Accept insults and injuries; Accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked; Be kind and gentle even under provocation; Never stand on one’s dignity; Choose always the hardest”. AND Winston Churchill sums it all up when he says: “The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes”.

And in the words of Max Erhmann, the American poet, in the 1927 poem “Desiderata” (Latin; things desired). “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story … You are a child of the universe … you have a right to be here …”

In the Bible, John II: 34 – 36 we read: “And Jesus said, where have ye lain him? They said unto him, Lord come and see: 35 – Jesus wept 36 Then said the Jews, behold how he loved him”. The shortest verse in the Bible, therefore, is John II: 35 “Jesus wept” – only two words. And Jesus was weeping for his friend, Lazarus, when he saw Mary and Martha wailing and sobbing; No analogy to the wailing and sobbing of Wontumi, except for the two words; “Jesus” substituted by a variable “Wontumi” and “wept” a constant.

Remember “No Tears for Ananse” the 1968 Ghanaian movie authored by Ato Kwamina Yanney and directed by Sam Aryeetey? Ananse’s insatiable greed made him feign death and before his death he had directed his family to bury him in his farm – that was done. The family detecting thefts in the farm built a statue smeared with glue.

Ananse, seeing the statue thought it was a thief. He kicked, boxed, headed the statue and got stuck… When the family went to the farm the following day, they saw Ananse… Any tears? EOCO’S Rambo-style of arresting Wontumi – why? “The law is the law”. (Gertrude Torkonoo) NPP Supporters massing up in support? – Be mindful of your utterances: Ghana belongs to NDC, NPP and Movement for Change…all Ghanaians!