Norman Goodman Misserial’s
A Presidential Morning (4)
It was getting on 8.00 a.m., and Kwaata knew he has to go to office, but it was necessary that he share a few words with his brother and financial backbone, Ansah Kwame Atta known among the presidential cognoscenti as Bukata. With the party General Secretary and National Chairman gone, Bukata pushed open his brother’s door and looked in. Kwaa gestured for him to come inside and close the door behind him.
Bukata was as short as his brother the President was tall, as slim as his brother was ebullient, and as ugly as his brother was handsome. A man with a soft voice and a soft demeanor, he had a first class brain, incredible business acumen, and can turn a profit where all else were failing.
The pair formed their partnership early, over sixty years ago. Basically, it was Kwaa’s job to scent where the next business deal was likely to come from, and Bukata’s job to go and knock the deal down. Indeed, it was only the pair of them who knew the extent of their dealings and holdings, all held in Bukata’s name to avoid political backlash. Nobody else came close to being privy to all that they did to keep Kwaa’s political boat floating, and Bukata’s business dealings working.
Now, they winked fondly at each other, and Kwaa asked, “How is the pressure out there?”
“Almost everybody is gone, except Ralph and Anthony. They will be with you in the car, not so?”
“Yes. Now, I have a job for you. Now that we have won this thing, we must do serious business. I want you to start scouting for people we will put in all the ministries, departments and agencies as Special Assistants to the appointees. Their job is to report to you on business opportunities. Every ministry, department and agency must have your man there. I will tell the appointees privately that these assistants are my men, who report directly to me, and that their wishes are my wishes. But of course, they will report to you. And their job is to scout for business. We must get to work immediately, and take this thing for all it is worth. And please, immediately, send proposals to all ministries, departments and agencies. The proposals must arrive just as our people are taking over. We don’t want things to settle down, before people become alert. Put your men under instructions that they are to approve the proposals and give the contracts.
“And please, start talking to all our international partners. We are ready for business. So they should come. We are ready for them. If anybody gives you any grief, please let me know and I will straighten it out. Will you have breakfast before you go?”
Bukata smiled, “What was it this morning?”
“Otweee nkwan and fufu. Our wife is upstairs. Go to my dining room upstairs and tell her to serve you. Will you pass by the office?”
“No. I must keep my distance from official circles. We must not create the impression that this is a family and friends’ government. So, unless it is absolutely necessary, I will not be walking around government offices. The government is you. If I have you, why walk around consulting underlings?”
“Bukata that!” Kwaa laughed as he heaved his massive frame out of his chair, put his arm around the shoulders of his trusted brother, and they went out.
When he saw the President coming out, Ralph Bonsu, the Communication Director, and Major (Rtd) Anthony Dzigbodi, the National Security Advisor, stood up. He was a former Army Major turned politician, a trained lawyer, academician, Chartered Accountant and journalist of note and Kwaa often referred to him fondly as One-Man-Thousand.
Anthony Dzigbodi was one of the truly brave men that Kwaa knew. When they were in opposition, and the Chameleon, as President then, had unleashed the police on demonstrating party members, it was Dzigbodi who had decided to take the vanguard and to lead the demonstrations himself. As a former army officer of national note, the police had become more cautious in attacking the demonstrators.
To reward him for his exceptional bravery during very tough times, Kwaa had named him National Security Advisor even before he was sworn into office. He laughed secretly at the consternation the announcement would cause at Police Headquarters, where some officers, all of whom had been identified, had taken it upon themselves to assault the opposition then.
Well, now, they were government. And that was saying a lot. Kwaa intended to leave the discretion of how those errant police officers were to be managed, totally in the hands of the National Security Advisor.
Kwaa took the arm of his National Security Chief in his own arm and headed towards the front door, waving goodbye to First Lady Joyce Adwoa Serwaa Atta, who was standing with his brother Bukata.
Followed by Ralph Bonsu, they headed towards the stretch Mercedes Benz that was to ferry them to Government House.
(To be con’t).
(You can follow stories in the Daily Searchlight on www.thedailysearchlight.com or Daily Searchlight on our Facebook home page. Write to us on searchlightnews@yahoo.co.uk).
