Quashigah must contest NPP flagbearership -Youth

Activists Forum for the New Ghana is ever of the opinion that the stone that the builders reject shall surely become the corner stone.

The doyen of Ghanaian politics Dr. J B Danquah once said “The hour of liberation has struck”. Yes indeed the hour to act is now. The saying is right that, if wise men refuse to be in politics they will end up being led by the unwise? Throughout history it has been the inactions of those who should have acted, indifference of those who should have known better, and the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph.

By virtue of our limitation as humans, we consistently pray to the Divine (God) to expose us to holy knowledge to guide our actions and inactions in our daily lives. We are guided by the principles of the holy knowledge in any step and decision we take in our bid to earn a livelihood and afford others the opportunity of a peaceful, hopeful and a liberal life. To this end, we at Activist Forum for the New Ghana embarked on several engagements with the divine to enable us identify the mortal within the peripherals of Ghana to salvage the country from the vicious cycle of political vindictiveness, poverty, graduate unemployment, widespread corruption, ‘whom-you-know’ and ‘who-knows-you’ syndrome and perpetual economic ineptitude.

The only mortal within the confines of Africa’s most democratic country - Ghana to lead all to the promise land is Major Quashigah (Retd). He is invariably a Distinguished Leader of Great Humane, An Intelligent Statesman, An Astute Politician, A Youth Developer, An Accomplished All Rounds Sportsman, A Strategist, Musician, Manager, An Administrator, A holistic Soldier, A Peacemaker, A Warrior and A Defender of the poor, A Teacher, A Mentor, A Role Model, A True Patriot and an Illustrious Son of Mother Ghana and Africa, highly disciplined and very much respected across the entire country by all tribes and religious groupings.

Analytically, NPP’s declaration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at their 2007 national delegates’ congress as the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party for the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections saw supporters of the party being very optimistic about a presidential and parliamentary triumph.

However, Activists Forum believe that in making a fair and a balanced assessment of the 2007 congress situational analysis, supporters presumably did not take a sober reflection of the various presidential aspirants who had the audacity to resort to blustering authority and peremptory way of outdooring their ideological persuasions and leadership credentials in the belief that the PARTY would win; the winner is right there under their noses.

In the future, the NPP had to develop clear criteria for choosing or better still short listing their potential flag-bearers who should be vetted and presented to congress for final choice in the belief that anybody who the congress chooses will surely win the 2012 elections then Quashigah is the best choice. The winner is right under their noses. Why are they wasting their time and our time?

Ghanaians should be aware of the fact that Quashigah and a lot of other hardworking persons like the late Kojo Baah Wiredu are all persons who have distinguished themselves towards national service.

Since the proof of the pudding is in the eating and for that matter, if we will give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar then indisputably the best proclaimed minister of state in Former President Kufuor’s Government in terms of performance and positive impact both Nationally and Internationally should be acclaimed unanimously as the flag-bearer of the party.

Democratically, it was platitudinous that Major Courage Quashigah (Retd) did not publicly and officially declare his intention for the flag-bearership but it was also crystal clear that supporters of the party then, were extremely obsessed with the idea that either Nana Akufo-Addo or Allan Kyeremanteng should be elected the flag-bearer.

Activist Forum for the New Ghana research finding confirms that Major Courage Quashigah’s tremendous track records both in the military and civilian life are impeccable and nearly second to none. Major Quashigah is a distinguished statesman whose political career started from the CPP as a leader in the young pioneer movement, then in the PNDC as the Saviour of Ghana from Excessive Blood bath and the NPP as one of the most distinguished Ministers of State and Politician in Ghana’s Political History.

Quashigah is a nationalist, disciplined, patriotic, innovative, selfless and a true democrat who always has the desire to serve the masses. During his days as minister of state, he proved beyond all reasonable doubt to be his own man, worked with all persons from both the NPP and NDC. These attributes unite a nation and he demonstrated this through out his political life. This is the kind of person Ghanaians should opt for as their President and a leader who practices democracy for the people and NOT for some people.

Major Quashigah’s lifetime excellence has won the heart of people from all walks of life particularly during his days as Minister of State in charge of Agriculture and Health where he made significant impact on the livelihood of the Ghanaian populace and the international community. No wonder he was adjudged the Best Minister of State in Kufuor’s Government, and was awarded the West Africa International Award of Merit by the Intra West Africa Communications limited as Ghana’s Best Health Minister 1992 – 2008. Following his introduction of Regenerative Health, Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle which was adopted by the AU leading to the declaration by the AU of every last Friday of February each year as Health Lifestyle Day. Today, countries like Britain and Spain have all resorted to healthy living related issues.

Furthermore Quashigah has a world wide record of being the only Black African to date to graduate as a Distinguished Honour Graduate Ranger from the United States Army Rangers School, one of America’s roughest and toughest military schools.

The NPP should be taking critical consideration to issues like who can win a lot of votes from across the regions, targeting even social and economic groups such as the youth, women, religious bodies, business people, farmers, fishermen, security services, teachers, civil society groups, civil servants, health workers, actors and actresses etc.

Upon careful appraisal of Quashigah’s leadership laurels and personal track record, Activists Forum believes that it will never be a misplaced idea if he also opts for the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party. This call is divine and must be treated with all the urgency, consciousness, seriousness, and the determination that it deserves; go for Quashigah for victory for Ghana.

Major Quashigah must accept this divine call to lead Ghana. God Bless Us All.

Long live all discerning minds

Long live all youth activist groups

Long live African democracy; Long live Ghana, the Pace Setter

SIGNED Stephen Asiedu Senior Activist Email: activists_forum@yahoo.com>