George Aggudey's goof (with voice link)

It was an ordinary political day for the Citi FM journalist, Richard Sky. His remit was to cover the filing of nomination papers by Convention People's Party (CPP) aspirants.
Turns out that this was the last official day for the payment of the 1000GH cedis (roughly 1000 US Dollars) filing fee by presidential candidates of the once dominant party.

The Party has seen some renewed life with 5 candidates showing interest in contesting for the ticket. Of the 5, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom was the only man to have paid by this time.

Enter Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosah, the eloquent 6 foot something pathologist, and former Director General of the Ghana Health Service. A charismatic fellow, his suave and poise was not lost on the scores of pressmen there gathered as they took pleasure in "grilling" him on a variety of issues from his chances of winning to his tenure working at the health service. All these questions he answers without blinking an eye, managing to even chastise the government he worked under briefly. Good stuff!!

Lawyer Bright Akwetey is soon to follow, he's neatly dressed in a suit with a pocket square, a rare departure from the typically "African" attire "Nkrumahists" have unofficially christened as their jersey. He can be pardoned, perhaps he's from the courtroom - the litigant that he is, and had to dash to the CPP headquarters to make it there before 6pm.
He answers questions about how an Akwetey presidency will deal with this and that, from journalists who are all too well aware that this reputable lawyer is just adding up to the numbers.

Dr Kwaku Osafo is an academic with unrivaled international exposure. He has great ideas for the country Ghana and appears sincere with his plans to improve the lives of Ghanaians. He's also quite well-respected and looks like someone who would be a good economic advisor to a socialist president. Guess the surprise then, when Dr Osafo arrived at the party headquarters on a motorbike! Yes, a motorbike. His reason? He had had some delays in getting his tax clearance and to beat the notorious Accra traffic, had to jump on a motorbike! Had he been a Rawlings, he might have scored a few populist political points, you know?

George Oposika (money cutter: in native Dangme dilect) Aguddey, the CPP presidential candidate in the 2004 elections, was also there to file his nomination. Accompanied by jubilant supporters, Mr. Aguddey, who had barely 1% of the total votes cast in 2004, arrived in a Lincoln and clad in a tee-shirt; your ordinary rich guy.
As if the irony of a self-professed socialist driving a fancy car was not enough, Mr Aguddey's answers to questions from the press and his subsequent tantrum were shocking.

Question: What will be your Campaign Strategy?
Answer: I'm just going to delegates for confirmation.
Q: What do you mean?
A:Ive already won, I'm the incumbent, I'm just going for confirmation.

This back and forth with Citi FM's Richard Sky goes on with the journalist probing for more specifics and the aspirant displaying his evasive best ... Until:

Q: There appear to be a lot of marketable candidates in the race this time round, does that bother you?
A: Go and ask those who voted against the party's candidate the last time round why they did so.
Q: And who are you referring to?
A: I say go and ask those who told people to vote skirt and blouse against the party the last time round, these questions!
Q: People say you are not marketable.
A:(Raising his voice) It is you who is not marketable! It is people like you, you join other political parties and come to the CPP head office to ask stupid questions.
Q: People say you don't stand a chance...
A: (Interrupting) What chance do you have in life? You tell me? I am better placed in life than you, you these journalists asking me stupid questions about my chances.... I have told you in particular to go and ask the man who worked against the party these questions...You annoy me so much(moving towards Mr. Sky) were it not for something you would see!

The exchange is interspersed with cheers from excited supporters and insults on the "impudent"reporters who dared provoke the show boy.

Some colleague reporters manage to whisk Mr Sky away from the premises amidst insults.

Listen to voice clip

Mr. Aguddey's tantrums may not have done his campaign any good, but at least he's done Ghanaians a favour by revealing his true colors a long time before congress day, and for that we thank him.