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The NDC gov’t attempted to shut down Joy FM, and take Afari-Gyan’s family hostage during the 2000 elections – Former British Diplomat reveals https://politicogh.com/2020/07/29/the-ndc-govt-attempted-to-shut-down-joy-fm-and-take-afari-gyans-family-hostage-during-the-2000-elections-former-british-diplomat-reveals/
“At the same time, Kufuor and his people had become highly nervous. Why was the result not being announced? Were fraudulent results being prepared? Was it going to be stolen again? Was there a delay to enable the military to prepare?
The NPP General Secretary, Dan Botwe, was pressing hard for a declaration. Then, around 3am, I received two pieces of news about the same time. Kufuor, on the advice of his key advisers including Hackman Owusu Agyemang, was going to declare himself President.
Almost simultaneously the NDC had decided that, in the event that Kufuor declared himself the victor, they would denounce it as an unconstitutional coup and move in the military.
Just at this time I also received a firm order from Rod Pullen; he had heard that things may be going pear shaped, and ordered me to leave the Electoral Commission building.
“I phoned Hackman:
“Hackman, I heard you are going to declare victory”.
“Well, it looks like we’ve won, and…”
“Hackman, please, listen to me. Do not declare”.
“But it’s been…”
“Hackman, I heard you are going to declare victory”.
“Well, it looks like we’ve won, and…”
“Hackman, please, listen to me. Do not declare”.
“But it’s been…”
“Please, Hackman, I beg you. Tell John. Tell him from me, personally, that Craig says he has to trust him. Do not declare. Then come to the Labadi Beach Hotel. I will see you there in half an hour”.
“OK, Craig, I’ll try”.
“OK, Craig, I’ll try”.
Hackman arrived and I explained to him urgently that Kufuor had, undoubtedly won. I told him that I absolutely guaranteed that Afari-Gyan would announce the true result when all constituencies were in.
But I also knew that forces in the NDC were poised for a military takeover if Kufuor made an“Unconstitutional” early declaration.
“The big problem is that, although I am a big fan of Afari-Gyan,the NPP were not,viewing him as the man who delivered the fixed 1992 and 1996 results.
“The big problem is that, although I am a big fan of Afari-Gyan,the NPP were not,viewing him as the man who delivered the fixed 1992 and 1996 results.
But I had seen that he could be both brave and honourable, given the resources and support. Finally I persuaded Hackman to trust Afari-Gyan, and the NPP did not make a premature declaration. The most dangerous moment had passed.
I then concentrated on encouraging a wide variety of respected and senior elderly Ghanaians to send messages to John Atta Mills conceding defeat. Atta Mills is an honourable man, and he did concede, to the absolute fury of Mrs.Rawlings.Mills thus killed off the chances of a coup.
This all cleared the way for the formal declaration, made about 3pm, with Roger Gale and Nigel Jones supporting Afari-Gyan. I sat in the next room, enjoying a quiet beer. Then I went home and slept, completely exhausted.
After a whole generation of rule by Rawlings, Ghana had come through to genuine freedom and democracy.
