Rawlings Goes Quiet

President Jerry Rawlings has effectively been silenced. He underwent surgery in Switzerland last week to enable him to breathe properly and sleep better at night. The surgical procedure is called - and you have to breath properly before you say it -"uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with tonsillectomy".

That simply means that his uvular - the jelly-like structure which hangs from the roof of the throat, located in between the tonsils - as well the tonsils themselves, were surgically removed.

President Rawlings, who is still only 53 years old, had been sleeping badly, because his uvular was elongated, and tended to sit in his throat when he slept; and that prevented the free flow of air down into his lungs.

Doctors also removed pieces of calcified, or abnormally hardened bone, from his left shoulder. Following the operation, doctors have ordered President Rawlings not to "exert pressure" on his throat. That means his diet is being limited mainly to liquids, jellies and very soft food in order not to hurt the throat. Besides, which it also means he cannot shout.

With just 10 weeks left before general elections, that will be particularly tough on the president who loves to, in fact needs to, speak in public. Indeed, his trademark is the impassioned, sometimes rambling, political speech, with quite a lot of voice raising for added effect.

President Rawlings is himself not seeking re-election because the constitution bars him from a third term. However, he was expected to hit the trail and campaign for the governing NDC candidate Vice-President John Atta-Mills, whose chances would definitely be helped with a bit of the Rawlings passion and charisma.

For many Ghanaians, the thought of the man who has dominated the country's microphones for nearly 20 years being limited to gentle whispers is almost surreal. It is even harder for the president, who is reputed to detest any kind of restriction.

Unfortunately for him, this is going to be one restriction he'll find very difficult to shout against.