Opinions of Sunday, 13 February 2011

Columnist: Pobee-Mensah, Tony

Ghana beware: The curse of the Rawlings

Mr. Rawlings boasts of being the longest "ruler" of Ghana. Mrs. Rawlings was right along with him all those years yet they are not satisfied. Mrs. Rawlings wants to run for the presidency. As far as I know, it is perfectly legal for her to do so and I do not dispute her right to run. But "their" desire to run exhibits some kind of greed. Whatever was good in the office, they didn't get enough of it all those twenty something years. Now they want to go back for more.

Who among us believes that Mrs. Rawlings will be the "decider" if she is elected? I believe very strongly that Mr. Rawlings will be handing down all the decisions. He will insert himself in all important meetings (make that all the meetings) and he will be making all appointments to offices without any authority from "Ghana" to do so. Even more important, if Mrs. Rawlings wins the election and say she gets another term, after the eight years, there will be another generation of Rawlings in line believing that the office of the presidency is theirs. Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings will be there appealing to the people who vote for them to vote for their children. Do we want to build a royalty in Ghana this way?

At this time, it is up to the people eligible to vote in the NDC primary to nip this "greed" in the bud. If they don't, it is up to the voting public in Ghana to stop them otherwise I fear we will enter a dynasty that borders on dictatorship. Our future depends on it. Our country depends on it.

Tony Pobee-Mensah