Political activist, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, shared an intriguing story about his encounter with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the 2012 election season. According to A Plus, the meeting took place at Akufo-Addo’s home one early morning, where he sought the presidential candidate’s endorsement for a peace initiative aimed at ensuring a violence-free election.
The initiative was part of broader efforts by civil society groups and public figures to promote peace amidst concerns about potential unrest during the fiercely contested 2012 elections. The idea was for Akufo-Addo, the then opposition leader, to endorse a peace pact that would calm tensions and counter claims from his opponents that he was inclined toward violence.
However, A Plus claims that Akufo-Addo’s response was unexpectedly direct. He recalls that in the presence of the late Yaw Kwakye, Akufo-Addo refused to endorse the peace initiative. “He bluntly told me he would not endorse foolishness,” A Plus stated. According to him, Akufo-Addo argued that it was then-president John Evans Atta Mills who had control over the police and military, which, in Akufo-Addo’s view, were being used to intimidate voters and rig the election. Akufo-Addo allegedly suggested that if A Plus was seeking peace, he should approach President Mills, not him.
A Plus’s revelation adds a new layer to the political narrative surrounding Akufo-Addo and the 2012 elections, suggesting that tensions between the major political parties were deeper than many realized. He also used the opportunity to call on Mark Okraku Mantey, a prominent media figure, to confirm or deny the story. “Mark Okraku Mantey, is this story true or false? If it is false, come out and tell everybody that I’m lying,” A Plus challenged.
The political activist didn’t stop there. He also criticized Akufo-Addo’s handling of the 2020 election, particularly pointing to the military’s involvement in Techiman, where several lives were lost during clashes over disputed election results. He accused the president of being responsible for those deaths and urged him to seek forgiveness from God for peace within himself.
As political tensions remain a constant feature in Ghana’s democratic landscape, A Plus’s story highlights the complexities of leadership, peace, and accountability in the nation’s elections.