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What is the significance of a
rabbit to Ghanaian politics?
By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor
Friday, November 20, 2015
Folks, almost every Ghanaian Head of State is known for
contributing something to the vocabulary feeding public
discourse on governance. From the Great Osagyefo to John
Evans Atta Mills, the records show that they have in one way
or the other said something in a peculiar way to immortalize
themselves thereby. Whatever they said might be politically
motivated but cannot be dismissed as inconsequential. Some
might be coinages or rehashed terminologies given new
semantic twists for comic relief or serious political
business. I leave you to dredge up some of those instances,
even as I remind you of some momentous ones.
Dr. Busia’s “No Court, No Court” vituperation; Gen.
Acheampong’s “Yen tua” vow or the “Kalabule” and “Fa wo to
be gye Golf” syndrome; Rawlings’ “Anoma antoa, ogyina hor”
miscue and “Hand over to whom” quip; Kufuor’s use of
“patapaa” and “Sasabonsam” in direct reference to Rawlings’
manner of politicking and “Kufuor Gallon”; and Atta Mills’
“Dzi wo fie asem” retort to the NPP’s condemnation of him
for not pushing Ghana into efforts to confront the Ivory
Coast’s former leader (Laurent Gbagbo). There are many more,
including the “Tweeeeeeeeeeaa” outburst by Gabriel Barima (Ahafo
Ano South DCE). These expressions particularize Ghanaian
politics as full of nonsense.
Don’t forget what the late Kwame Kwakye added to the
equation:
Question: Are you the District Commissioner for Akim Oda?
Kwakye’s Answer: No, I am the D.C. (as if he didn't know
that a D.C. was the short form of District Commissioner).
Question: Will you speak English or Twi?
Kwakye’s Answer: What? A man like me in suit, coat, tie over
a pair of black shoes to speak Twi? I will SPOKE English!!
Yes, he would SPOKE English!! After all, hadn't the students
of Abuakwa State College stricken, struck, or strokenken?
Brofo ye dru ampa!!
But he did his work thoroughly as a local politician of the
"Verandah Boys" ilk. The hard fact is that such a person
entered political office by virtue of his own personal
attributes, not that of legacy or any heirloom left for him
by an accomplished relative. He rose by his own boot straps,
challenging us, the less-privileged ones to do what we can
with what we have where we are.
That humble origin is exactly what President Mahama
represents; and as he told his critics, he was just a
village boy who has risen to become Ghana's President. Even
though his father is regarded as an accomplished politician,
he left nothing for John Dramani Mahama to pick up in his
quest to be what he is today. Unlike him, his detractors in
the NPP (especially Akufo-Addo) can hang on to the legacy of
their fathers to boast and crave for the Presidency as a
birthright.
That is why they undervalue him as a Pepeni who should
rather be weeding their cocoa farms or carrying their night
soil instead of being in power as the fount of authority.
That is why Freddie BVlay would say that if President Mahama
were to be in the NPP, he won't become Ghana's President!!
Folks, it is beyond nauseating at this point to face such a
barrage of calumny. And so, when such opponents insult him
anyhow, they set him up to react appropriately as he has
done.
Folks, although these issues are just for the laughs in a
somber reflection on the kind of discourse about Ghanaian
politics, it does throw the searchlight on what is happening
in our time today when certain groups of people use words
anyhow to undermine others just for political expediency.
Currently in vogue is the NPP and its political allies'
tagging of President Mahama as "incompetent", something that
has rankled him to roar back to them.
He won’t be left out. In responding to the constant
haranguing by his opponents in the NPP tarnishing him as
incompetent, he came up with a new tag to qualify the rogue
politics of the NPP that will for long defy easy
comprehension by his detractors. He simply told them that he
won't respond to their "rabbit press conferences". Of
course, his comment is a direct consequence of their
annoying and querulous nature. But what is a “rabbit press
conference”?
In circumscribing his reaction in the rabbit metaphor,
President Mahama has left us scratching our heads. Why use
the "rabbit" as a metaphor to ridicule the effusions of
those detractors? Why no other animal but a rabbit, Mr.
President? The riddle is thick here!
Do you remember one of Ghana's unsuccessful professional
boxers called "Adanko Deka"? In Akan, "adanko" means
"rabbit"; and "deka" means "owes" or "is indebted" (if not
"in trouble"). Why this boxer chose that name still remains
a mystery; but the truth is that his style of boxing was
really awkward to the highest degree possible. And it didn't
take long for him to be outpointed and forced out of
contention. Adanko deka ampa!!
Folks, we all must know what a rabbit is---a harmless
herbivore known for hopping, not walking or running as other
quadrupeds (four-footed animals) do. It has its attributes.
Perhaps, it is in the same category with the kangaroo but
differs largely because of many peculiarities.
Here are some of its attributes. Both its fore and hind
limbs are equal in size and alignment, unlike those of the
kangaroo. The rabbit is harmless unlike the kangaroo that
could be vicious. The rabbit procreates faster than the
kangaroo and many other mammals and could win any award
anywhere in that context.
And the rabbit gobbles its food quickly as its mouth quavers
and its whiskers dance around to create a funny spectacle
for sore eyes. But it is mostly known for its hopping and
huge sexual appetite, leading to excessive reproduction
within the shortest possible time.
There are other animals that hop as the rabbit and the
kangaroo do. If hopping is their natural locomotive asset,
who can begrudge them for using it? But why hop when
walking, running, and flying are better opportunities to
move around with ease and accuracy? Hopping constrains in
many ways and exposes the hopper to danger. So, the rabbit
(unlike the hare) has limitations here.
What baffles me, then, is why President Mahama would
associate the NPP's constant effusions against him with this
poor animal. What is it about the NPP people's
talk-talk-talk that warrants their being equated to the
rabbit?
If it has to do with awkwardness, then, the riddle may begin
being untangled/unpacked for comprehension. And there is
much awkwardness there!!
Will President Mahama do us the favour of unpacking this
rabbit riddle as he used it in his political rhetoric? That
will be a good counter-punch to deflate his detractors, even
as they purpose in their hearts to persist in flagging him
as incompetent.
Truly, our democracy is producing interesting vocabulary.
From "dumsor" to "rabbit press conferences", we are getting
somewhere!!
I shall return…
• E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com
• Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor
to continue the conversation.
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