Even if Nana Akufo-Addo Did Drugs, It’s Not A Big Deal - Alhaji Bature

The Managing Editor of the Bilingual Free Press newspaper, Alhaji Bature has said it was unnecessary for Nana Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to have responded to 'drug addiction' allegations against him. He said the allegation used against him in the 2008 elections by the NDC is a dead issue and therefore will be non-applicable in the 2012 elections. “Even if Nana Akufo-Addo did drugs, it’s not a big deal.” Nana Akufo-Addo has served notice he will deal decisively with anyone who dares perpetuate the allegation and associate him with cocaine abuse. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day NPP national youth conference held in Tamale. He said contrary to widespread claims that he uses cocaine, he has never sniffed, eaten or done anything with the illegal drug and challenged his accusers to prove their allegations or forever hold their peace. But speaking on Asempa FM, Alhaji Bature noted that Nana Akufo-Addo's response opens up a “Pandora's box“ which will affect his presidential bid. He added that commentaries from party functionaries and social commentators who seek to bring in the personal issues of President Mills and Vice President John Mahama, are rather embarrassing Nana Addo instead of providing facts to prove his innocence. “The personal issues of Vice President John Mahama and President Mills are already in the public domain and they have not denied them. Therefore comparing them to Nana Addo’s drug allegation will rather embarrass him.” Asokwa MP, Maxwell Kofi Jumah who was also a panelist on the programme, however disagreed with Alhaji Bature. He said he is extremely happy with Nana Akufo-Addo's responses on the cocaine allegation because it would have been a destruction to his campaign in the 2012 elections. Kofi Jumah added that “political opponents who could not find any trace of corruption, malfeasance or incompetence with which to link him, (Akufo-Addo) deliberately and maliciously fabricated wicked lies to try and dent the man’s image”.