Africawatch Responds to Nana Akufo-Addo

A messAGe From execuTive ediTor sTeve mAllory Ghana The lies ANd iNsulTs musT sTop Africawatch responds to Nana Akufo-Addo e at Africawatch pride our- cancer as far back as June 2013 at the selves on being one of the Wellington Hospital in London and that he most uncompromising, un- had since been undergoing treatment at that biased and truthful pan- hospital. African magazines, and it From Akufo-Addo’s medical records that was in that spirit that we we obtained, it is obvious that he has an Wcovered in our August issue the health acute kidney injury as well as an enlarged status of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, heart, all of which are life-threatening the presidential candidate of Ghana’s main diseases, and for which he has been opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). We receiving medical attention at the Welling- felt it was a story of vital national and inter- ton Hospital and, indeed, has undergone national interest, with ramifications for catheterization at that medical facility. Ghanaians in the upcoming election as We wholly sympathize with Akufo-Addo regarding Akufo-Addo’s personal health as he battles against these serious diseases. and ability to withstand the rigors of the Our thoughts and prayers are also with presidency. his brother, Edward ‘Bumpty’ Akufo-Addo, In that cover story, we stated that we had who is also seriously ill at this time. Edward clear medical proof that the NPP presiden- has been at the side of the presidential tial candidate did not have only prostate candidate since the 2008 elections as a cancer but also other serious complications. leading member of his personal finance Executive Editor Steve Mallory We said he had been diagnosed with prostate team. We understand that with two key 6 September 2016 l Africawatch Nana Akufo-Addo is at a crossroads, as he faces the very real challenges of serious ill-health both to himself and his brother, while his political party, the NPP, faces financial problems and internal strife. Africawatch l September 2016 7 members of the Akufo-Addo family being believe in the health services they build for critically ill at the same time, this is a very their own people), while the duties of state difficult situation for the family to bear, and are farmed out to subordinates who may not we ask the Almighty God to bring them to a be up to scratch or may abuse such power speedy recovery. suddenly thrown into their laps, to the As we stated in the Akufo-Addo cancer detriment of the nation. story, illness is, of course, a very private Since our August issue hit the Ghanaian affair, and sharing such information is newsstands, people from Akufo-Addo’s usually an individual decision for any faction within the NPP have attacked private citizen, just like Edward. But when Africawatch in a well-orchestrated campaign one is making a run for the presidency, full of lies and insults, and many of these such as Akufo-Addo is doing, then the entire attacks have been directly upon me, both public has a right to know the state of that personally and professionally. candidate’s health, because of the massive We believe that our credibility and repu- responsibilities that come with the position. tation are strong enough to absorb these Akufo-Addo is no longer simply a private unwarranted and provocative attacks. citizen, so his health status is no longer just Akufo-Addo’s men engaged in very crude a private matter, and the people he seeks diversionary tactics, some using absurd to govern have the right to know about language, but none of them has responded his illness, and such medical transparency directly to the substance and actual facts far outweighs Akufo-Addo’s right to such of the report. So far there has been no clear privacy. denial by Akufo-Addo himself or his people In as much as we sympathize with Akufo- of what Africawatch reported. The Ghana edition of the August Addo, we were duty-bound to report his issue of Africawatch ran this diagnosis of prostate cancer and his medical When a big man lies … important cover story as we believe complications. such reporting and transparency What Akufo-Addo’s men have done is to is for the ultimate good of an President Atta Mills’ example bring forward a local Ghanaian doctor, Prof. informed public. Adu Gyamfi, who claimed that he has been Akufo-Addo’s cancer story is extremely treating Akufo-Addo for the past two years, important and necessary to enable an open in an attempt to refute the substance of national discourse regarding the personal our report. He stated that Akufo-Addo’s health of anyone running for such an impor- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) was not the tant and powerful office as the presidency extremely high 89.9 which we reported, but of Ghana. The country has been through was only 0.03. this before, when President John Atta Mills But when asked whether his famous was impaired by serious illness while in patient had ever been to Wellington Hospital office, and how that was kept secret until his in London, Prof. Gyamfi responded that he sudden death while still in power, leaving didn’t know. This response from someone the country in a very vulnerable state who has been treating a 72-year-old man for In as much as during the transition period. the past two years is striking. Prof. Gyamfi we sympathize with We at Africawatch believe that the appears to suggest that he took on Akufo- Akufo-Addo, we were medical records that we have made public Addo as a patient at the age of 70 without revealing the true state of health of Presi- checking his prior medical history before duty-bound“ to report his dential Candidate Akufo-Addo are of treating him. If he had done so, he could diagnosis of prostate national importance and we have only those have easily given at least a yes or no cancer and his medical interests in mind. Nothing more, nothing response to the simple question of whether less! Akufo-Addo has ever been to the Wellington complications. ... We at We published the story purely out of Hospital. Africawatch believe that duty and obligation to the nation. Whatever This alone calls into serious doubt his the medical records that anybody may say, the nation deserves to assertion of a current PSA count of 0.03, or know the health status of its leaders or anything else he may have to say regarding we have made public aspiring leaders. Being a president is a very the candidate’s state of health. It would revealing the true state serious and stressful job that deserves to be appear the professor doctor has been far of health of Presidential done by healthy persons elected to do so by from truthful in this important matter. Candidate Akufo-Addo the people. Which brings us to the substance of our There is no virtue in electing a president report. Akufo-Addo’s one clear response to are of national importance whose ill health would impair the person’s all the issues raised by our story was to state and we have only those ability to execute his or her presidential at a rally in the Northern Region: “Now, they interests in mind. Nothing duties and mandate properly. Such a presi- say I have cancer, it will not work.” This, of dent would spend much time in hospitals course, neither confirms nor denies the truth more, nothing less! abroad (usually abroad, never at home, an of the medical facts as we have reported admission that African presidents don’t them. And not denying those facts speak to 8 September 2016 l”Africawatch the truth of what we reported. However, Akufo-Addo seems to be openly implying that we at Africawatch are “out to get him,” giving his men the wherewithal to propagate the same. But it is simply not true that Africawatch is out to get Akufo-Addo. Here, it is imperative that I explain some few things, particularly my prior and current relationship with Akufo-Addo. Personal friendship As public records will indicate, in the past I was involved in the center-right politics of Ghana and was active in that, helping raise funds, as well as personally contributing to the campaign of some candidates, particularly Akufo-Addo. But I quit active politics in 2009 to return to journalism, after which I indicated clearly to Akufo-Addo, on several occasions, that as a journalist I would remain neutral in Ghanaian party politics, and the magazine I edit would also remain neutral in Ghanaian politics. But as a friend, I have supported Akufo- Addo in the past. For those who do not know and are saying all sorts of things, I have given Akufo-Addo money in the past to support his campaigns, but he has never, Blay, and his wife, Gina – has alleged that Freddie Blay, acting chairman of ever given me one cent or one pesewa for my Africawatch was paid by the ruling National the NPP and owner of the Daily personal use, contrary to what his men are Democratic Congress (NDC) to publish the Guide, has recently been publishing alleging. I dare Akufo-Addo to prove me Akufo-Addo cancer story. Theirs was a false stories about Africawatch, wrong. concocted accusation of course, but one and he appears to be doing so While I was in active politics, I did not obviously published to do Akufo-Addo’s directly on behalf of Akufo-Addo.

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