Several sections of her speech in Villepinte, north of Paris, appear to repeat almost word-for-word comments Mr Fillon made in an address on 15 April.

An official of her National Front party said she had made a “nod” to Mr Fillon and it showed she was “not sectarian”.

Ms Le Pen faces centrist Emmanuel Macron in the final round on Sunday.

The similarity in the speeches was pointed out by the Ridicule TV YouTube channel, initially set up by François Fillon’s supporters to attack Mr Macron before the first round of voting that saw Mr Fillon eliminated from the contest.

Ridicule TV said the far right presidential candidate had plagiarised Mr Fillon’s speech “word for word” and set the two speeches side by side, inviting viewers to make up their own minds.

The videos were also posted on Twitter.

Several passages imitated Mr Fillon’s address word-for-word:

• In Mr Fillon‘s speech, he made specific reference to France’s geography and neighbours. He called the Rhine border with Germany “the most open, the most dangerous, the most promising” but mentioned “a Germanic world we have been so often in conflict with and with which we will yet co-operate in so many ways”
• Ms Le Pen also called the same border “the most open and the most promising” and also mentioned “a Germanic world we will yet co-operate with in so many ways, as long as we regain the relationship of allies and not of subjects”
• Both speeches spoke of waiting lists to learn French in Shanghai, Tokyo, Mexico, Rabat and Rome
• Both speeches used the same quotation from World War One PM Georges Clemenceau
• At times, the words were almost exactly the same. Mr Fillon said: “France is a history, it is a geography, but it is also a set of values and principles transmitted from generation to generation, as passwords. It is a singular voice addressed to all the peoples of the universe”
• Ms Le Pen echoed him with: “France is also a set of values and principles transmitted from generation to generation, as passwords. And then it is a voice, an extraordinary, singular voice that speaks to all the peoples of the universe”

The Liberation newspaper said that what was supposed to have been a key speech for the second phase of voting in the election became instead a focus of ridicule for social media users.

But Florian Philippot, deputy chairman of the National Front, told Radio Classique the party had owned up to the similarities and that Ms Le Pen’s speech was “nod-and-a-wink” to Mr Fillon’s speech to “launch a real debate” on French identity.

He earlier told Agence France-Presse that the speech showed “she is not sectarian”.

–

Source: BBC

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It soon became apparent that some parts of the President’s inauguration speech were lifted from speeches delivered by two former Presidents of the United States and President Buhari of Nigeria.

My friend took umbrage at some Ghanaians who appeared to be gloating over what clearly was an embarrassment to us all as Ghanaians.

He referred to the western media organisations who reported the matter and in the manner in which they reported it as being hypocritical. His point was that, similar, and indeed sometimes worse things happen in some of these countries but they are not highlighted, especially in the same manner and the speed with which they reported the matter.

I told my friend that while I agreed with him that the western governments and their media have always been hypocritical on some of these issues, in respect of their reportage, I held the view that, we as Ghanaians have been more hypocritical, compared to the western media, and that the claim that those of our compatriots who appear to be excited about what happened on Saturday, largely opponents of the President, are “naïve” or “stupid” as my friend put it, was not justified.

Servitude to our parties

To some people we are a country of cynics, unpatriotic and insanely political people who refuse to be liberated from the clutches of partisan political servitude. Servitude to our parties. Some Ghanaians, it would appear have rented their brains to be used to advance myopic political advantages.

You may not agree with me on my assertions. That is okay. For those who find my characterisation offensive and in bad taste, I apologize. But we must learn to say things as they are in this country.

The events of 7th January, 2017 were momentous. It was a colourful event in all respect. Even by our own standards, this was a remarkable improvement on what happened 4 years ago. We had 3 living former head of states grace the occasion to pledge the President, their support.

Those who have lived longer than many of us, are telling us that this was the first time something like this was happening in our country. It was even significant when one considers the fact that exactly four years ago we are talking about the needless pandemonium which happened at the residence of former President Kuffour. Some members of the New Patriotic Party went to the house of the former President to prevent him from attending the investiture of the then President-elect John Mahama. This was because the NPP was challenging the presidential election results as declared by the Electoral Commission.

That was how the NPP chose to express their disapproval of the election results– Outright boycott of the inauguration. That was, to be fair, perhaps a legitimate means of expressing their anger at what they considered a ‘stolen verdict” and as I have heard some argue that, it will be counter-intuitive to challenge something and seek to be part of the processes that will offer legitimacy to the process.

Demo against presidents in foreign lands 

That is part of our history now, and it should belong there-in the past. But the events of last week clearly demonstrates that some Ghanaians did not forget some of these things in the past. In an attempt to rob the President of any aura of legitimacy and integrity, some individuals were dispatched from Ghana to the US and UK to organise demonstrations against the President and call him a thief.

He was reviled in foreign land, in front of the media and his host. Indeed, that began in Ghana here and in the House of Parliament where some minority Members of Parliament held placards, referring to the President as a thief, in the full glare of western diplomats and the media-both local and foreign.

They poured immeasurable amount of scorn and odium on the president. They were not excoriated. Some Ghanaians were obviously angry. But that is what and who we have been. We have seen, dealt with and regarded our presidents based on where we stand on the political and ideological continuum.

We did it to Rawlings, Kufuor, Mills and Mahama

We did it to Presidents Rawlings, Kuffour, Mills and Mahama. On occasions when some of them travelled, we followed them there, to tell the world our leaders are corrupt and undeserving of their offices and any courtesy that their host may extends to them. When we have been busily trying to outdo each other in handing over lethal weapons to our “enemies”, why should we be expecting mercy from them?

When a western leader travels outside of his jurisdiction, you find citizens of his country, in his host country waving their flags at them. We have seen that before, and many times. When President Obama visited us here in July 2009, the flags we saw were not those of the Democrats or Republicans, but the American flag.

I do not in anyway wish to be understood to be saying that we should be quiet about the corruption or the many ills we accuse our leader of. Corruption is bad, in whichever shape it takes, irrespective of who is seen or suspected of engaging in it. We should be seen agitated about it.  When we see it happening and we have evidence of it, we should punish those leaders who we think are corrupt, of course through the powers we have at the polls.

If you were happy this was done to former President Mahama or any of  his predecessors, but you are unhappy at the way the western media took this plagiarism claim and reported it, you are not being fair and you are not being sincere and to put  it bluntly, you are being hypocritical.

If you were smouldering in the past because this was being done to President Mahama, but you are happy at what happened to President Akufo-Addo, and you are happily sharing it on social media platforms, you need to seriously re-examine what your values and principles are , and when they left you. .

What should happen going forward?

We should define the Ghana project and be committed to it. We should know where politics begins and where it ends in this country. We should know and appreciate where the frontiers of mischief and cynicism should and must end. We should summon the same spirit of dedication, good will and good faith that moves us to wish well for our parties and wish same for our presidents and the country at large. We should learn to tolerate each other more and zealously guard the honour and dignity of our leaders we put in office and our country.

I do not ask for a mindless defense of anything they do and close our eyes on their failings. We should not fail to speak against authority when acts of corruption and bad governance are apparent and proven. We should never not tolerate bad governance and corruption. But when we want to do that, as we sure have to do, I encourage us all to be decorous and civil in expressing our anger and disquiet. Notwithstanding the noise and hot air we hear on our airwaves, it is actually possible to be decorous and still be heard. You may want to give it a try. When we do that, others will respect us and our leaders.

However you look it and whichever side of the political divide you stand, the events of 7^th January is not just a part of the legacy and history of President Nana Akufo-Addo. But the story of Ghana. It was meant to be a defining moment, not just in the life of the President, but that of Ghana as well. But a wicked combination of incompetence and dishonesty, has robbed us all of the goodwill that ought to have come with it.

Observers are worried 

Next time the President travels outside to speak, those who will be listening to him will be wondering which of the lines were picked from somewhere. When he goes to the UN in September this year to deliver his speech, they will be wondering if that is also a plagiarized speech. That is how bad this is. Quite unfortunate for those of us who have had the opportunity of listening to the President.

When I heard then candidate Akufo-Addo speak to students of the University of Ghana School of Law in April 2016, I went to one of his aides to confirm if indeed he spoke extempore, because he didn’t have a speech before him. But we all enjoyed his speech-both in substance and delivery.

Akufo-Addo could have done better

There are those who believe, and quite rightly so, that, the president could have delivered a much better speech on that day even if he had to speak extempore. But unfortunately, for him, and quite sadly for us all as Ghanaians, his first encounter with the world in his capacity as President was in many respects a huge embarrassment. It may end up defining him in a rather bad manner as someone who lifts speeches, as someone who cannot think for himself. It is not just unfair, but nonsense to attempt to put a blame on the President and call him incompetent.

For we all know he didn’t write it and couldn’t have discovered it. Someone disappointed him. Should the person be dismissed? I think so, for the President to send a message that he means business. But will that be done? I don’t think so, it won’t happen.  Not in this our society and certainly not from our political class. That will be expecting too much.

Let us wish the President and his team well to deliver to this country the many things they promised. We should, by now have a “Green Book” or better still a “Red Book” of the promises he made to us. Let us, together with our media take up positions and police the corridors of power to ensure that the promises are delivered. That power is not abused.  That jobs are created and that life is made better for us all.

This is not the time to be sniggering at the president and his team and call them incompetent too, because of what may have been said during the campaign.  Let us commit ourselves to continue to do that even after President Akufo-Addo leaves office and extend same respect to the office.

That way we can expect others to respect, not just our Presidents but we Ghanaian as well, wherever we may find ourselves.

–

By: Gafaru Ali

([email protected])

The post …Of a plagiarized presidential speech [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The inauguration of the President was beautiful. I especially loved the speech by H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, and I pray you remember his solemn pledge to protect the public purse.

The speech itself had everything you would expect from the accomplished lawyer and statesman. All the initial reviews I saw were positive. After all, Nana Addo gave us a firm indication during the campaign that when it comes to speeches, he’s one of the best there is.

So you can imagine my surprise when I woke up after a quick nap on Saturday, January 7, to find the world telling me that the esteemed orator had quoted former US Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton verbatim without acknowledging them.

I mean, how?

After all the heightened expectations for the incoming government and the inauguration day, the plagiarism was like pouring sand in my delicious gari.

As discussion around the blunder played out, I latched on to a statement made by my senior journalist, that the Communications team of the President can cure the mischief by a reasonable reaction, which in this case will mean an apology, withdrawal and correction in the online publication of the speech.

I must admit that I doubted this will happen. I mean, this is Ghana politics for you. Even people caught on tape making the most unfortunate statements can go scot free and be celebrated by their party rank and file.

My fellow Technocrat and engineer turned communicator, Eugene Arhin (who runs the Communications Bureau at the Flagstaff House), however proved me wrong by issuing an apology within hours of the gaffe.

The man immediately earned my respect because honestly speaking, he didn’t need to apologise.

All he needed to do was to pretend it never happened and leave the party rank and to file to defend it as they are known for.

Worst case scenario, the issue dies a natural death after next big story comes up. But Mr Arhin bit the bullet and took the blame, even though I suspect he didn’t write the speech.

Classic move, you will go places sir.

Now to the many Ghanaians out there who have decided to bear Mr. Arhin’s cross when he has obviously not contracted you, I have a bone to pick with you.

Instead of you people to accept the wrong and echo the apology, you have begun defending like John Mensah in his prime. Now I normally have no qualms with a healthy political debate, but I think the one you are stoking is needless.

This is why.

First of all, the man you were trying to defend has already accepted his wrong. Your arguments remind me of a Ugandan lawyer who recently sued the Jewish people for unlawfully killing Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, when the man accepted the punishment with no complaints.

Mr. Arhin says he made an oversight, he has shown readiness to endure the teasing and blame for the wrongdoing, and you are here trying to explain the blunder.
Why?

Secondly, this government is still in its honeymoon phase.

Most new governments have a period where not much is expected from them because they are considered as warming up to their roles.

During this period, the euphoria from the electoral victory is still high and so it’s easy to brush such issues under the carpet.

I have followed most of the critique on social media particularly, and it seems to lack the venom often directed at a non performing government, which has frustrated citizens with similar lapses on many previous occasions, and in many different sectors.

After all, even the law courts are mild on first time offender.

Thirdly, the standards the NPP set for itself in opposition, requires them to be extra careful when dealing with the sensibility of the average Ghanaian.
This is a party that boasted about having competent men and women who will deliver quality leadership, sufficient to change the standards of living of the people of Ghana.

They also bemoaned the impunity and insults often used by then government communicators and labelled them as power drunk.
After pointing out the mistakes of now opposition NDC, the Elephant fraternity was quick to assure Ghanaians that they will do much better.

Is this the better we were promised?

So let’s take another look at this defence you put up.

First you argue that the quotation from the GW Bush speech is not plagiarism because it was initially made by Woodrow Wilson over 70 years ago, and plagiarism does not apply when the 70-year period has elapsed.

This is nauseating. In Ghana’s copyright law, Woodrow Wilson has a moral right to be acknowledged by President Akufo-Addo. The 70-year rule applies to his economic right, which will not even be necessary in this case because H.E. is not gaining a profit from the quotation. And even if it had been a correct argument, do you think the 15 heads of state sitting there care about Ghana’s copyright law?

Did you really think Ghanaians will accept this half-baked attempt at a defence?

You then tried to equalise by citing the mistakes made by the Mahama administration, particularly during the ‘Brochuregate’ scandal on Independence Day. This is saddening. Is this not the same government which was labelled incompetent? Why use their mistakes to justify this one? If citing previous examples makes this error less serious, why didn’t Ghanaians listen to the then NDC government when they said the Kufour era also had dumsor? Please, this culture of equalisation is becoming outmoded as Ghanaians are becoming more aware oh. Yooooo…

Now to my brothers and sisters in the NPP, I know it hurts to see such a beautiful ceremony marred by what seems like a minor blunder.
Seeing your NDC counterparts gleefully chewing on this bone doesn’t help matters either.

But going into defence mode will not help your case. It only extends this debate and leaves a longer impression in the minds of Ghanaians about your party.
I think it will profit you better if you spent your time hailing Eugene Arhin’s quick response.

My humble advice is for you to curb your enthusiasm and forget about trying to justify it.

In a few days, Ghanaians will find something new to talk about and the trolling will cease.

For the sake of God, Ghana and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, let it go.

Sincerely yours,

A citizen, who is not a subject.
–
By: Daniel Dadzie

The post Defending plagiarism, an open letter to the NPP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Professor Cletus Dordornu in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show said the allegation of plagiarism against Akufo-Addo is saddening.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pNJyI0D10AJDdOAAORwaugmRCxUIRf9U”]“The issue about plagiarism has always been there. It was saddening. I would want to blame the President, but whoever supervised the writing of the speech should have made reference to theses people.”

President Akufo-Addo has come under pressure to fire some members of his communication team for supervising the writing of his inaugural speech that had portions of it lifted from a speech delivered by former President of the US, George Bush, but failed to credit them.

After the heavy criticisms over the weekend, the international media also fed on the news, a situation analysts say has brought shame to the President and the country.

While the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin in a Facebook post apologized for the incident, Economist, Professor Cletus Dordornu says the supervisors of the speech must be fired.

“I know many cases where because of plagiarism, PhD thesis were rejected. Because of plagiarism, a lot of shame has been brought to people. It would have been wonderful if those lines were acknowledged, it would have enriched the presentation. Generally, I remember from 1790 when the issues were taken very seriously, the Presidents removed their speech writers because it is like casting a slur on the President.”

Although the inauguration ceremony was characterized by many high points including the spirit of friendliness demonstrated among all former Presidents, and President Akufo-Addo reiterating his resolve to lead Ghana into a period of economic transformation and progress, the allegation of plagiarism appeared to have taken the shine out of the event, dominating discussions in various media spaces locally and abroad.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Nana Addo’s speech supervisor must be sacked – Prof. Cletus appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Some party activists have since the development, sought to offer explanations that I find very shallow and problematic. First of all, the fact that the speech was repeated by several presidents does not give Nana’s speech writers any excuse or reason to lift words from the speech by President Woodrow Wilson (28th President of USA).

A mere apology for that embarrassment that was visited upon us is not enough. There should be sanctions. This gaffe should not be treated with kid gloves especially when our newly sworn-in President is already in the headlines in other countries for the wrong reasons. His reputation has already been dented.

And to those who are complaining that the criticisms are unfair and coming in too early, I wish to remind you that this is what patriotism is all about. We [Ghanaians] cannot go on holidays after Saturday’s elaborate inauguration of the NPP administration. We must support this administration, not only by religiously paying taxes and supporting policies and plans, but also criticizing it when it goes wrong.

A piece of advice to NPP gov’t

Nana Addo came to power with the promise of transforming leadership, zero tolerance for corruption, and open governance. These can only be achieved if the President immediately dismantles the cartels around him who would want to use their proximity to the presidency as a way of enriching their pockets.

The next step is to strike a balance between the huge expectations of Ghanaians (those who voted for him plus those who didn’t) and the realities of the day. This will go a long way in helping the NPP administration prioritize the people’ s needs.

What the NDC should do

On the political front, NDC must also take their new role (minority party) seriously by conducting themselves in a manner that manifests them as a “government in waiting.”

They must play their watchdog role and only accept to go to bed with the majority party in matters or areas that are in the interest of the people of Ghana. They (elements within its rank) must not be seen to be joint-conspirators with elements within the government in matters that only serve to defraud the public.

In conclusion, I wish the new administration all the very best, but the same time, remind them that the honey moon period is over!

It is now time to deliver on their litany of campaign promises besides sorting out the challenges inherited from the NDC administration!

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Marian Ansah writes: Apology for speech gaffe not enough; sanction writers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Following the swearing-in of the President and his vice today [Saturday], January 7, social media has been awash with some quotes in Nana Addo’s speech, believed to have been lifted from speeches by two former American Presidents.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PPAfunbEoWIKLXen4kkNo34kWimVXj7y”]Some critics have described the act as plagiarism. But in a statement issued by the Director of Communications at the presidency on his Facebook page, Eugene Arhin said it was an oversight and not a deliberate act.

According to him, the President in his speech acknowledged every source of a quote he used, and thus this could not have been deliberate.

Mr. Arhin’s post read; “My attention has been drawn to references being made to a statement in the speech delivered by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at his swearing in on Saturday, January 7, 2017, which was not duly acknowledged.”

“I unreservedly apologize for the non-acknowledgement of this quote to the original author. It was a complete oversight, and never deliberate. It is insightful to note that in the same speech were quotes from Dr. J.B Danquah, Dr. K.A. Busia, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the Bible which were all duly attributed and acknowledged.”

In his speech that has widely been commended, the newly sworn in President quoted Thomas Woodrow Wilson, an American politician and academic who served as the 28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921.

In a speech in 1913, Wilson said “We are bound by ideals that teach us what it means to be citizens. Every child must be taught these ideals. Every citizen must uphold them…. I ask you to be citizens. Citizens, not spectators. Citizens, not subjects. Responsible citizens building communities of service and a nation of character.”

The quote was repeated by President George Bush in 2001.

Whiles urging Ghanaians to be loyal citizens, President Akufo-Addo said, “I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building your communities and our nation. Let us work until the work is done. Holy Scripture in Galatians 6:9 says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’re sorry for not crediting some quotes in Nana Addo’s speech – Arhin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.