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Nduom breaks silence... I want to be peacemaker

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He told the Daily Graphic that the 2012 campaign made me more sad and disappointed about where we are as a country.

Breaking his silence for the first time, after many months of refusing to comment on national governance and elections, he said “I saw many “forgotten” communities with no drinking water, no real schools, no electricity, no jobs, with very little to live for.  I resolved that win or lose, I would spend my time trying to help some of these communities.  I have been working to give support where I can, find money to lend to very small business people, and have started a foundation that will focus on financing initiatives to educate brilliant needy children and provide facilities,” he stated in an exclusive telephone interview. Dr Nduom is currently in the United States on private business.

On why he had been silent, he said “My experience during the campaign and during the voting proved to me that we were walking on a dangerous path with the sort of politics going on – tearing apart hard-won reputations of people, lies, throwing mud at opponents, bribing the poor for votes, using government resources to win votes and a dangerous blame game between NDC and NPP and a deep-seated dislike (sometimes thinly veiled hatred).  I knew Ghana would need peacemakers no matter who won but especially if either the NDC or the NPP won. 

Some of us made up our minds and I have kept faith with this that we would try hard to be peacemakers after the election, he stated.

According to Dr Nduom, When the NPP petitioned the Supreme Court over the presidential election result, the venom poured on it by sponsored groups and politicians was scary to many in our society. 

It made it imperative that I held myself ready to help make the peace by bringing people together whenever judgment was given by the court.  It is clear that whoever loses this case is likely not to go home quietly.  All the more reason why I decided early on not to comment or make any statements about the case before the court until after judgment and then to work to heal wounds and help all sides deal with the result, he pointed out

Also, Dr Nduom said that the PPP believed strongly in the need to change our systems, processes and methods used to conduct elections – after the court case is over, change is needed in order to prevent a repeat of 2012.  We want to keep promoting this change.

While the Supreme Court case is on, Dr Nduom said that, many in government, business, etc have taken their eyes and minds off what we need to do in the country – it is all politics, politics, politics and especially who wins power. 

My silence has been to avoid falling into that trap.  It has been to enable me to focus on doing what I can to promote job creation and finding investment resources for the Ghanaian private sector, he stated.

“I do not want to be a part of the senseless noisemaking on the airwaves.  I have chosen to host a programme on radio, “Ghana, Great and Strong” every Saturday, 7 - 8p.m. focused on discussing what will make this country what we want it to be – positive, prosperous, the best place for its citizens to be.  This way, I get my views across directly with no filtering or going through political lenses of the negative type,” he disclosed.

He further disclosed that he was working to strengthen the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and help develop “our younger men and women to build leaders for the future. 

‘We want to make the PPP the party of change, put people in Parliament and find those who will be president, going into the future.  Success we know may not come quickly or easily so we are laying a foundation.  That means I push others to the front and prepare them for center stage.” he declared.

“I am past 60 years .  I am spending more time with my family, particularly grandchildren.  Life is too short,” he concluded.

By Kobby Asmah

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