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The lessons that Amenfi
West has taught us (Part 2)
By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Part 1
Part 2
Folks, we continue with the lessons that the outcome of the
bye-elections in the Amenfi West constituency have taught
us, even as we brood over happenings beyond that level. Here
are four more lessons:
5. The peaceful manner in which the bye-elections took place
should teach Ghanaians how to conduct affairs at a larger
level—the general elections itself. Indeed, the voters and
all those involved in the process did well to ensure a
peaceful, free, and fair polling, which should be replicated
at Election 2016. It is possible if people know that the
elections aren’t meant to be a do-and-die affair but the
exercise of a democratic right to choose “rulers”. And once
the people know that those “rulers” have no magic wand with
which to solve problems, they should be prepared to go for
the best and not allow themselves to be deceived into
causing violence. In a democracy, violence shouldn’t be the
means toward solving problems. Is that what the NPP will be
comfortable with?
6. The Electoral Commission succeeded in organizing the
bye-elections and must be commended, even though it used the
very voters register that the NPP and its lackeys in the Paa
Kwesi Nduom-led Progressive People’s Party have discredited
and are yelling for a new register to be compiled for
Election 2016. Having used this register, written off as
“bloated” and “discredited” by the NPP and Co., the EC has a
good case to insist that no new register be compiled but the
existing one “cleaned” well enough for future elections. And
it will be right, After all, why would the NPP accept this
very register for us in the three bye-elections so far held
after its useless petition hearing and still insist that the
voters register is bloated and discredited? What sort of
murderous hypocrisy is that?
7. Before the bye-elections, we had heard from the suspended
NPP General Secretary (Kwabena Agyepong) that Amenfi West
would definitely fall for the NPP. He had given a number of
reasons to justify his optimism. So also did Sammy Awuku do
when the results of the elections began trickling in to give
the NPP an edge. In the end, everything went topsy-turvy for
the NPP. Premature ejaculation? (Sorry for the offensive
play on words here)!! The lesson is that such misplaced
optimism has the potential to cause trouble, especially if
it succeeds in shaping the minds and attitudes of the
party’s supporters. Creating the impression that the NPP was
on the winning trail only for the results to disprove that
claim is a recipe for disaster and should be discouraged. As
is happening all over the place, the NPP leaders are using
the challenges facing the government as the basis for
preparing their followers’ minds for victory at Election
2016. The danger is that when reality proves them wrong,
they will refuse to accept the outcome. That is where unrest
begins. Amenfi West has taught the lesson that politicians
need to be measured in their speculations about electoral
chances and be circumspect in their utterances to that
effect.
8. The lower than expected voter turn-out is worrisome, but
understandable within a complex context. Clearly, the
electorate in the constituency may be wary of voting because
they haven’t seen the value of an MP; that is, if the
performance of the deceased MP (Gyetua) should be considered
in this scenario, which explains why the speedy development
projects undertaken before the elections passed off as mere
gimmicks to buy votes. But in the end, those projects will
serve useful purposes. The lesson here is that our MPs have
to do a lot more to serve the purposes for which they are
chosen as representatives of the people—mostly, to bring the
share of the national cake home. That is what government is
about.
Folks, there are many more lessons that we can point to; but
we will pause here with our final thoughts. The NDC and its
government should learn from the outcome of this
bye-election to tackle problems so it can retain its
goodwill. The problems that it hasn’t been able to solve
have angered the people and it must redouble its efforts to
tackle them if it wants its mandate to be renewed at
Election 2016. The fact that the margin of votes at Election
2012 in Amenfi shrank drastically in this bye-election is a
pointer to be acknowledged and factored into strategies for
winning the support of the voters for future elections.
For the NPP, there is an uphill task. I have said it several
times and will repeat it at will that the party is being led
by Akufo-Addo who easily comes across as not a politician.
He isn’t politically gifted to put the NPP in power. Don’t
get me wrong, folks. He may be regarded as a “successful
lawyer” and patted on the shoulders; but a politician he is
not. Evidence exists that he is the architect of his own
electoral losses at Elections 2008 and 2012. And he has
already prepared the grounds to lose Election 2016 because
he hasn’t done anything constructive to change the
parameters. If you doubt my claim, just read what Kwame
Pianim is reported to have said yesterday (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Pianim-I-am-frustrated-over-the-troubles-in-the-NPP-401202).
A good politician will use every means available to put his
own house in order before attempting to enter other people’s
houses to win support. From what is happening in the NPP
under Akufo-Addo, when he is tearing apart his own house,
one can easily conclude that he doesn’t know what he is
about. All these draconian measures against those who would
have helped him move on smoothly are counter-productive. As
of now, he has lost his focus and doesn’t seem to know where
he stands. Contesting Presidential elections for the third
time in Ghana with such a torn-apart house won’t help his
course.
He needs a lot of introspection to help him focus properly.
Otherwise, he will expend all material and human resources
only to end up at the electoral refuse dump again. Why is it
difficult for him to know that winning elections in Ghana
will need more than he has done so far? In the previous
elections that he lost, the NPP was united. Now that it is
divided, and with little indication that the party is
winning the hearts and minds of floating voters, what
guarantee is there for him?
He seems to be doing a one-man show, supported by an active
cast of “Concert Party” performers whose contribution to the
drama scares the people more than wooing them to the NPP’s
cause. His constant bashing of President Mahama won’t win
him any floating voter. Neither will his insistence on
projecting himself as incorruptible. The truth is that the
people already know him for what and who he is. And that
knowledge won’t turn their crank to root for him “at all
costs”.
Thus, instead of projecting his personal attributes, he
needs to go higher to tell Ghanaians what he can do to solve
problems and support any claim with substantial sensible
evidence. Merely presenting himself as not corrupt or
susceptible to corruption is the most stupid political move
to make. He shouldn’t under-rate the people’s intelligence
because they know him for all that he is. They know him more
than he knows himself. At least, he has left several traces
behind him for that purpose. If he thinks otherwise,
woebetide him. And that woe awaits him at Election 2016. He
should be the first to admit that his show of support for
the NPP candidate in the Amenfi West bye-elections didn’t
produce the magic that he had dreamt of. So, what else
should he do but change his strategies?
Folks, I have gone all this distance because of the
impression already created that Election 2016 would be a
make-or-mar case for Ghana. While Akufo-Addo and his NPP are
preaching violence (especially if their demand for the
renewal of the voters register is not met), the Mahama-led
administration is taking everything in its stride, hoping
that measures put in place could help solve the major
problems that have angered Ghanaians thus far.
The nub is that when these problems are solved, the NPP will
be left with nothing to hinge its electioneering campaign
on. In that sense, then, policies to solve national problems
will be at issue. The NDC administration has made its
policies clear and in his first open appearance last night,
President Mahama told Ghanaians what his government has been
able to do and what it couldn’t (not forgetting why and how
it intends to move ahead henceforth). That’s a bold move,
which sets the stage for the electioneering campaign
henceforth. What does the NPP under Akufo-Addo have to
counteract the President’s submission other than the usual
rabble-rousing?
Their Dr. Bawumia was at the forum and will be expected to
come out with something to support his constant rhetoric
about the government’s handling of the economy. How will
such a move add any value to the NPP’s politicking? The
questions will be asked, and it is up to the NPP people to
come out with convincing answers to persuade the electorate
that they have a better alternative and should be put in
power. If they continue walking the “Kwaku Ananse” path that
they have carved, they will end up being defeated at polls.
At least, Amenfi West should open their eyes to the reality
that they have missed all this while. So much for now.
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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