Article: Kofi Yeboah
“I believe in building Ghana into a strong, powerful and self-reliant state with full control over its strategic assets and natural resources.... I will promote a people-centred, self-reliant development strategy that guarantees equal opportunity for all. This is what I believe in and that is what I will strive to achieve.”
That declaration, made at the Ghana International Press Centre (GIPC) on September 10, 2007, is the basis on which firebrand anti-corruption campaigner and lawyer, Mr Bright Akwetey, is seeking the mandate of Ghanaians, as the country’s President in 2009 to restore Ghana to its glorious past.
However, before Ghanaians could think of entrusting their destiny into the hands of Bright Akwetey, the astute lawyer needs the approval of delegates of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) as the party’s flag bearer at its national congress on December 15, 2007.
Almost three months after making his official declaration and barely three weeks to congress, the former Chief State Attorney is renewing his call on the party’s delegates to endorse his candidature in order to return the CPP to winning ways by wresting power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in next year’s presidential election.
“I want to be the flag bearer because I want to rebuild the CPP into the formidable political machinery that it was and lead it to victory in 2008”, he declares.
“If the delegates at the party congress nominate me, they are in good business because one of the principal things I will do early is to ensure their safety”, he said, giving the assurance that he would deliver that promise through his international connections.
Mr Akwetey promises CPP faithful and Ghanaians in general a selfless, vibrant and strong leadership to change the living conditions of the people.
“People go into leadership for self aggrandisement. But I like the example of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory who sacrificed his time, his money and life for the people of this country. I want to improve on the living conditions of Ghanaians and promote social justice in this country”.
The strong desire of Bright Akwetey to be President of Ghana is embedded on his personal encounter with deprivation, hardship, abject poverty and under development across the country even before he became an adult.
As the son of a retired police Chief Inspector, Bright attended 11 schools, in Accra, Bolgatanga, Tamale, Wenchi, Kumasi, Obuasi, Ejura, Antoakrom, Bekwai, Takoradi, Axim, Sefwi Wiawso, Sekondi and many other towns just to complete a 10-year elementary education as he followed his father around on transfers.
That experience equipped him with the ability to speak many Ghanaian languages apart from his native tongue. They include Twi, Hausa, Sefwi and Fante, which he speaks fluently, as well as an understanding of Nzema. The ability to speak those languages has been an effective arsenal in his political campaign as the electorate always get excited when they hear him speak their language.
He believes that tribalism or what he calls “tribal chauvinism” is on the increase and that is tearing the nation apart. Therefore, it is time to banish it from the fabric of society and he is ready to perform that task.
Mr Akwetey has been a fighter all his life. But he does not fight in the boxing ring or on the streets of Accra despite the fact that he is a thoroughbred Ga from Gbese. Bright fights corruption, which has been his lifetime sworn enemy.
At the peril of his career as a lawyer and life, he took his fight against corruption to the corridors of power when he petitioned President Kufuor to investigate the late Chief Justice Justice George Kingsley Acquah, the number four man of the state, for corrupt practices.
Bright Akwetey says as a public prosecutor for about two decades, he could have enriched himself through the cases he handled but he decided to seek the interest of Ghana and Ghanaians above his personal interest. According to him, if the cheating and corruption are stopped and the national cake is distributed equitably, Ghanaians would be better off.
“My fight against corruption and injustice over the years has earned me various accolades. Some say I am a litigant. Others say I am controversial. But I am neither of these. I stand for the truth, justice, equity and fair play. I pledge to commit the rest of my life to the service of God and country with all these attributes,” he remarks.
Much as his fearless resolve to fight corruption is amazing, the source of his strength for that campaign is equally revealing. Bright’s source of strength is not because he comes from Gbese, which does not beget cowards; neither is it because he is a lawyer, who knows how to talk. It is all about his father!
As a police officer, his father fought corruption and injustice everywhere he went. But that attitude was so alien to many police officers who had become bedfellows of corruption at that time. So in that anti-corruption crusade, his father ended up “stepping on toes” everywhere he went and expectantly, he got punished for his “insubordination” with transfers. Bright believes that his father’s blood runs through him.
He says having toured the whole country during his campaign, his conviction to serve the nation has been consolidated and reinforced by the hunger, deprivation and hardship that stare the people in the face, as well as the sheer waste of the country’s natural resources. He detests the domination of foreigners over the country’s natural resources and advocates a total control of such resources by Ghanaians.
“I want to see Ghanaians as proud, confident, disciplined and law-abiding citizens whose standard of living is measured not only in GDP terms but also the extent to which the average Ghanaian can afford good quality education, shelter, clothing, food, employment, health and have the opportunity to travel in decent transportation and on secure and safe roads”.
In spite of his bubbling confidence, Mr Akwetey reckons that the battle ahead is not about rhetoric. That is why he considers a united front of the Nkrumah family as key to winning election 2008. He is therefore committed to pursuing unity talks with the People’s National Convention (PNC) in order to achieve the dream of bringing back the Nkrumaist family to power.
The message of Bright Akwetey to all Ghanaians is very simple. Ghanaians will be a happy people if he gets the state machinery to execute his plans for the nation. Therefore, he is calling on the CPP party delegates and all Ghanaians to vote for him and as his slogan goes, “Save Ghana now!!! For a brighter future”.
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