As energies
and lights of 2015 got sapped and faded out all too fast to give way to 2016, I
and many others were apparently having mixed feelings about the future of
Ghana. The curious feeling that would have especially engulfed the thoughts of
many others was that of the ugly danger associated with the contours of Ghana’s
political landscape fully occupied by agitation, tension, desperation and
disjointedness. Regardless of failures, successes, huge potentials and bright
prospects of Ghana, these contours must present a scaring nightmare to all
those who have Ghana at heart. It is, nonetheless,
a call to more proactive and transformative actions by Ghana’s leaders.
The centre could hardly hold in NPP
The
unsettling nature of power blocks in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)
where the centre could hardly hold did vitiate their strength to give viable
alternative policies and programmes to Ghanaians. It also weakened NPP’s
ability to effectively put the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its
government in check. NPP’s Leader and
2016 Flag-bearer, Hon Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo was apparently seen to have been thrown
into a mesh woven by flesh eating worms with debilitating prowess far too
powerful beyond the containment and survival stamina of an otherwise political colossus
and prominent lawyer. He almost surprisingly became a political dinosaur
largely due to Overarching Clashes of Personality Interests (OCPI) and Acute
Leadership Deficiency Syndrome (ALDS).
Nana Addo simply was overtaken by emotive tendencies
as he watched on while NPP appeared disintegrated and non-viable alternative in
the eyes of many Ghanaians. Instead of rallying all interest groups in NPP
behind him, Nana’s unrelenting quest for power may have swayed him into
thinking that labeling interest groups as ‘spies and crushing them’ would pave
way for him regardless of how much significant such interest groups were. This
sense of reasoning may have been a direct consequence of misleading advice and
anti-Nana tagging.
Holding the center in NDC but its government dangled
On the
other hand, whereas NDC party appeared well settled at the centre, there was
enough simmering dissatisfaction at the grassroots to suggest that all was not
too well with the party. As if that was not to be enough, NDC’s government led
by H.E President John Dramani Mahama appeared to have stepped on the toes of
many residents by the way and manner the economy and energy situation of the
country was bizarrely handled by a number of the President’s appointees and
functionaries. The raging grapevine suspicions attributable to this less than
expected performance of some of these government functionaries were that while
some of them were thought to have been intentionally sabotaging President
Mahama’s better outlook, others were said to have been busily grabbing the
largesse of the Masses as they engaged in murky deals to their selfish gains
and to the exclusion and detriment of the interests of President Mahama’s
government and the people of Ghana.
As
President Mahama struggled to effectively put his feet down and go beyond the
powerful machinations of general poor attitudes of Ghanaians, inefficiencies of
State Institutions, political patronage and godfather/godmother syndrome, it
was just about the effectiveness and efficiency of his leadership and
government which altogether was to be called to question. Many people kept
wondering why an otherwise excellent leader could have allowed himself and his
government to be drawn into public dungeon of outrage by few non-performing and
clueless elements in very strategic ministries, departments and agencies.
Successes of Political Actors
In the end,
before 31st December could help complete the year 2015, Ghana was
saddled with competition between joint forces of mediocrity and disillusionment
and apathy and frustration which succeeded in making 2015 a ‘difficult year’
for many businesses and households. However, many good things happened.
For
example, after all the internal wrangling in NPP and suspension of their
general secretary, chairman and second vice chairman including some
constituency chairmen and executives, the party eventually succeeded in
rallying forces together and organized a
national conference at Sunyani where Parliamentary candidates and the national campaign team of NPP were
inaugurated. Party Officials and some MPs thereof were also in the media, at least
defending the courses of action taken by the party and chastising almost
everything about government albeit without alternative propositions.
President
John Dramani Mahama also showed remarkable performance in infrastructural
development in essential sectors like health, education and transportation
across the country. He also found nerves and disciplined some erring and less
performing functionaries of his government. Some of his ministers, of course,
performed very creditably and appeared to have put a shine on the overall
performance of the government. Many Ghanaians are carefully watching the space
to see how the energy and spirit of greater sense of urgency will be pumped
into all government functionaries so as to make many more people feel that there
will be brighter light at the end of the tunnel.
NDC Party,
which President Mahama also leads, especially demonstrably performed well by
the way it successfully held the first
polling station based elections of MPs and Presidential Candidate where
all registered members were eligible to vote.
Moreover, it was amazing to see how the party managed to hold different
interest groups together after the polls which, of course, suffered some
technical challenges.
Demanding a new paradigm in the New Year
However,
having crossed over to 2016, indeed in the first few days of the New Year, most if not all of residents of Ghana are looking
up to seeing a different political landscape that promises a trouble-free 2016
general elections. Although it will be irresponsible to accredit the
self-seeking sensations of doomsayers and war mongers with platinum of
relevance and loudspeakers, it will be in the best interest of all and sundry
to wake up to face the following reality dispositions head-on.
The kind of
performance put up by the NDC government, in 2015, must not be allowed to repeat
itself in 2016. We need better performance than that and deserve to be governed
more responsibly and proactively, without fail. The urge to galvanize all
spirited forces to undertake public business not as usual but with both highest
sense of integrity and greatest sense of urgency should not only be inspired by
positive desire to win 2016 general elections. It should most importantly be
motivated by the passion to leave a lasting positive legacy where every
resident of Ghana including opponents will be proud of.
What President Mahama therefore needs to do
differently this new year, is to first focus attention on putting more sanity
and discipline into his government where his political appointees and public
servants will regard him not just as humble and friendly but a man who is very
firm, no-nonsense and intolerant for mediocrity, scapegoating /useless excuses,
inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in running public business. While also
focusing on ensuring that his campaign promises are fulfilled through extra
hard work, he should pay very keen attention to ensuring that political actors
are treated fairly by State Agencies including Electoral Commission and
security services.
Also, we do
not need the kind of irresponsible opposition performance, in 2015. We need and
deserve a far better opposition organization and activism. NPP should
concentrate in sanitizing and reconciling its ranks and come out with credible
alternatives and constructive criticisms. They must not be given a hearing on
the way they always tried to blame all their woes on NDC and its government.
Nana Addo must know how more discerning Ghanaians have become. For him to see
any light of the day he must present to Ghanaians united, credible, quality and
peaceful party, else he should forget about the presidency. He should not be
deceived into thinking that doom saying or war mongering will make many
Ghanaians or even the NDC government take him and his NPP party seriously. Nana
Addo is a respectful elder and must leverage this to preach to his followers
and the larger Ghanaian public that he is more interested in peace and
development of this country than being President. That way and together with
credible alternative programmes and united party, Ghanaians could choose Nana
Addo over President Mahama.
This in the light of the fact
President Mahama together with his NDC
party is realistically ahead, right now due to their more peaceful and united
nature. It is also at the same time that President Mahama has incumbency
advantage with huge infrastructural projects to show. He is also seen to be
more affable with greater appeal to many people. This presents a tough competition
which requires Nana Addo to work extra harder in order to make himself and NPP fraternity
more able to favorably compete with President Mahama.
Final remarks
At the end of
the day, 2016 must be a year of competitive performance for the overall benefit of everyone
in Ghana. Above all, everything possible must be done to ensure that there is
peace and unity before, during and after the 2016 general elections regardless
which political party emerges the overall winner in Parliamentary and
Presidential Electoral Counts.
I submit
therefore that while it’s very important that political actors must lift up
their game to a more exciting level, they must do this with highest sense of
responsibility. They must note that everyone will be the ultimate beneficiary when
peace, stability, unity and development continue to reign after a winner
fairly, transparently and creditably emerges.
Happy and Prosperous
2016!
No comments:
Post a Comment