Arthur Kennedy Sinks

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Parent Category: Our Country

Category: Politics

Created on Monday, 14 December 2009 00:00

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Arthur Kennedy Sinks

By A.R. Gomda

DR. ARTHUR Kennedy continues to sink in the quicksand of Ghanaian politics as his vitriolic-attracting publication pitches him against more personalities within and outside political circles.

He himself has gone into overdrive, engaged in as it were writing rejoinders to the mostly abrasive critiques of his political literature Chasing The Elephant Into The Bush, rather than dealing with launching the book and its marketing component.

He has so far reacted to the observations of Kweku Baako Jnr., former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Mr. Gabby Otchere-Darko, among others.

The publication appears to have been dealt a lethal injection even before it is out-doored for members of the public to have access to it on the bookstands.

Even his campaign manager when he was busy pursuing his presidential flag-bearership dream on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah, is not amused with the way his man is managing the emanating challenges.

In a personal correspondence to the embattled Dr. Arthur Kennedy, Dr. Barimah, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Health & Allied Sciences of the Catholic University, pointed out the absence of an acknowledgment of his role as National Coordinator when he was managing his presidential dreams in the publication.

Having been denied a copy of the publication, he told his pal that those privileged to have them are rather using them negatively.

He advises his friend to steer clear of engaging the media in verbal exchanges since, according to him; such altercations are unproductive, explaining, My only advice is that you choose your words carefully when reacting. For your information, no one has won a battle of words with Ghanaian journalists.

He asked Arthur Kennedy to get those who have read the book to clarify certain portions for him adding, Study the situation, proceed cautiously and then come out.

For now however, reactions to every criticism, as is happening, he noted, is not an appropriate option, stressing that having followed discussions on other NPP forums it appears you are talking too much in your attempt to defend yourself.

Dr. Barimah warned him about his sustaining a beyond-repair-damage to himself, especially since according to him, there are some people who may want to shorten your political career and you have to be a step above them.

The university don expressed subtle dismay that even after contributing towards improving the contents of the literature, the author failed to as he put it “Out of courtesy sake tell you that you should have at least indicated that I was your National Coordinator, whether good or bad.

His reservations notwithstanding, he has expressed willingness to team up with other journalists to “balance the equation.

In Dr. Kennedy's response to Gabby's critique, he denounced the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute’s position that his impression about Hajia Alima Mahama and Dr. Bawumia were tainted by his interest in the running mate slot since he lobbied for it.

He dismissed this as inaccurate and not based on his publication.

While as a good party member he would not have minded the running mate slot, he denied lobbying for it, adding that he never stated in the book that Dr. Bawumia did not bring anything to the table.

Dr. Bawumia, according to him, had the NPP won, would have been a valuable asset to the government in facing the global economic crisis.

Although he said he discussed the subject of running mate with Nana Akufo Addo, the then flag bearer said he was picking a Northerner.

“From then on, I was focused on helping the candidate to pick the best nominee possible. To this end I gave the candidate a confidential memorandum outlining a process for the selection of a running-mate”, he stated.

Continuing, he pointed out that had the process he had outlined been used, by the time Hajia's candidacy became untenable “there would have been another candidate, vetted and ready to step in. Instead, there was the chaotic process that led to the selection of Dr. Bawumia”.

Dr. Kennedy said that his opposition to the Bawumia choice was not personal but principled and open, explaining, "I stated my objections openly and forcefully in front of the candidate in a meeting attended by former President Kufuor and his Vice Alhaji Aliu Mahama."

In yet another rejoinder to the Chronicle newspaper, Arthur expressed anger at the introduction of a story which stated that he was cooling off in the US, while alleging in his book that key figures in the party were criss-crossing the country campaigning, and others enjoying with their girlfriends in hotels.

The foregone, he noted, is not supportable by the book and that nothing in the literature will lead a reasonable person to the conclusion that formed the basis of the headline: “Bonking Caused NPP Defeat”.

He described some stories in the newspaper as doing a disservice to the nation and the journalism profession.

To the NPP, he noted that there are many false friends in the media, as evidenced from the publications of the Chronicle, and that some persons who have copies of the book have become unwitting accomplices of those peddling falsehoods.

If there is any locally authored publication which has stirred so much controversy even before it is launched, "Chasing The Elephant Into The Bush is unrivalled. Not even the "Stolen Verdict" attracted as much flak as this one.

Source: Daily Guide