Mills is still a poodle, but to the Ahwois
By Enyonam Tamakloe

In 1996, after serving eight years as the Acting boss of IRS – yes, eight years in an acting position, President Jerry John Rawlings pulled Associated Professor John Mills from the political wilderness to make him his running mate.

Since the man had no political experience and was not even a member of the NDC, he owed that position as vice presidential candidate to some political masters. To the world, his master was President Rawlings. But, to those who knew, the men who impressed upon President Rawlings to accept Prof Mills, a CPP diehard as his running mate, were the Ahwoi brothers.

Prof Mills served obediently for four years as Vice President. In 2000, the Obed Asamoahs and Goosie Tannohs were looking forward to a lively contest to succeed Rawlings. But, it all ended in a Swedru Declaration when President Rawlings single-handedly handpicked his Vice President as the 2000 Presidential Candidate.

Mills, who had no political experience of his own and had built no track record, was seen as nothing more than a creation of President Rawlings. What did not come out at the time was that the Ahwoi’s notably Ato and Kwamena, managed to convince President Rawlings that the party needed such a nonentity to succeed him, a person who could not be tagged with the negativity of the (P) NDC.

What they did not add was that Mills was a man they could control. He was not his own man and would never be his own man and would forever owe his position to those who made him. And, so it transpired that Prof Mills made a public declaration that he would not allow Rawlings to rest in retirement and that he would, if voted as President, “consult” Rawlings “twenty four hours a day.”

So, the tag of Mills as Rawlings’ lackey, lapdog, and poodle was created. In fact, until Gaby Otchere Darko came along, the impression was simply that Mills was not his own man. What Gaby did after 2001 was to give the name and tag Mills the Poodle. Until 2009, Mills was seen as a poodle for Rawlings, ready to do his master’s bidding.

But, by 2005, it was more than clear that Rawlings had lost faith in Mills. But, Rawlings was afraid to make that public because he had allowed Mills to grow his own political base based on the party’s understanding that Mills was Rawlings’ boy. So, for Rawlings to go against Mills would have turned the whole thing on a referendum on Rawlings’ own popularity in the party.

Rawlings did not want Mills but the Ahwois wanted Mills. Mills, after being told that he had cancer, a terminable disease did not want to run a third term, after losing twice to J A Kuffuor, but the Ahwois knew that Mills was their best chance for gaining control of the party. The NDC also knew that Mills was the most marketed person.

It was during this time that Mills became a devout Christian. He felt the end was near so he drew nearer to his Maker. The Ahwois felt the end to their time in opposition was near and only Mills could end it so they pushed and pushed him.

Even when he was not well they would get him to campaign. In fact, Rawlings covered more ground and pulled more campaign crowds than the 2008 flag bearer. Rawlings knew that a Mills victory would be an NDC victory and hence his victory.

But, the Ahwois, who according to Herbert Mensah, saw Mills then as delusional and very ill were preparing a plan B and nothing more. That plan B should have them in pole position. Thus, even after the victory, they put their enterprising playboy brother Kwesi Ahwoi as Agric Minister and made sure he had the biggest budget to help build his political base.

They managed to convince Mills that Rawlings would bring his government down if he allowed him anywhere near the Castle. In fact, at the beginning Rawlings set himself an office at the Castle, but Ato Ahwoi killed that.

Every appointment had to be approved by Ato Ahwoi. He is seen as the de facto Prime Minister but he is indeed the de facto President.

It is an open secret in Ghana that Mills can’t see properly and can’t hear properly as his health continues to fail him. But, the Castle has not built any system that would aid an ailing President to perform his functions properly. The news is that any document that the President either has to approve or append his signature has to be first okayed by Ato Ahwoi.

The news, often gleefully spread by aides of the Vice President but with some frustration, is this: “You take am official document to President Mills for his signature, the first question he asks, ‘Has Ato seen it?’ If the answer is yes, ‘Is he okay with it? If yes, ‘Then I will sign it.’ So who is in charge?”

I was very angry to hear Gaby being quoted as saying Mills is no longer a poodle. If Gaby did say that then he must apologise to Ghanaians for selling the false impression that Mills is no longer a poodle.

Mills is a poodle because he is not his own man. Mills is a poodle because he can’t take decisions. Mills is a poodle because his appointees do not take him seriously. Mills is a poodle because he is not in charge. Mills is a poodle because even though he is the constitutional leader of the NDC he cannot control the party.

Finally, Mills is a poodle to Ato Ahwoi. He does what pleases Ato Ahwoi. He is not in control. One of the biggest complaints within the NDC is that nobody seems to know who is in charge. With Mills they know that the Ahwois control him. But, in the absence of a clear constitutional leader of the country and party, power groups have emerged.

Within the Castle, the wing of the Castle controlled by the Vice President is in constant all night prayers for the President to drop dead so they can get an easy route to the Presidency as head. The Fante Confederacy and Dzelukope Mafia are fighting from the two extremes for power and in the middle are the John Mahama baby group, which focuses on making money, the Tsikata group which focuses on security and oil – fighting over oil with the Fante Confederacy of Ahwois on one hand and the Kwesi Botchweys on the other hand all fighting for a piece of the oil and gas and the Dzelukope Mafia struggling with the Tsikatas over control of the nerve centre of the party, with a serious split in the middle of the party executives.

In short, Mills is simply not in control. He is a weak leader, who allows others who have not been elected to pull the strings. He may not be dancing to the tune of Rawlings but he is certainly not dancing to his own tune. The Ahwois control him. So, Mills remains to be not his own man. He is a poodle for life. And the earlier he is gotten rid of, constitutionally, the better.

Enyonam Tamakloe, December 22, 2010