My deepest regret – Voting for NPP

Since I have attained the age that qualifies me to participate in the universal adult suffrage, I have never voted for the NPP until the 2012 election. For this election, I think Nana Akufo-Addo has suffered for so long and must be given the chance to implement whatever he had for Ghana, given his age. Moreover, his main contender, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has age on his side and could come again in the next two elections to do battle. Let me place on record that I am not a member of any political party and do not really have sympathy for any. I make my electoral decisions on matters of the moment.

After casting my vote on Friday, I have been waiting patiently in anticipation of the final results that would go in favour of Nana Akufo-Addo. However, as the figures were being churned out through the mass media, I began to revise my notes and could see clearly on the wall that my candidate in this year’s election had a hard luck. Indeed, the official declaration by the Electoral Commission (EC) turned out to be against my wish. But before Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission addressed the press to announce the final results, events on Saturday and Sunday made my thought processes question the decision I made on Friday.

The premature press conferences addressed by Mr. Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) and Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the General Secretary and Chairman of NPP respectively gave me cause to worry. What was most unfortunate is the massing up of irate mob in the name of NPP supporters to the Electoral Commission and its installations. What was the motive of all these? I found the reasons assigned these actions very inconsequential and uncalled for. What is more, NPP was ordering that the results should not be declared according to the timelines set by the Electoral Commission. The camel’s back was broken with a press statement by Sir John, even after the declaration, that NPP did not recognise the results declared by EC.

As a country, we have agreed to abide by the works of a very credible institution like the Electoral Commission to organise elections in Ghana and we must continue to give them our support. Incidentally, this commission organised elections that were won and lost by both NDC and NPP in times past. What has changed today? It must be placed on record that the demeanour of the leadership of NPP throughout these days leading to the end of the 2012 elections and days immediately after would have a telling effect on the fortunes of the party in subsequent elections. It is my appeal that cool heads prevail in the leadership of NPP in order to guarantee the sanctity of this country of ours. Four years is just a short period that would soon come past so we do not need to plunge this country into anything undesirable.

The stage we are in our developmental efforts as a country deserves no such tensed election fevers as Sammy Awuku and other leaders of NPP wanted to take us through. There are better ways of seeking redress in any dispute rather than the unfortunate mob actions that took place on Saturday and Sunday. We need peace and not civil strife. Nana Akufo-Addo has said consistently throughout the campaign that he would not want to come to power over the drop of a human blood. I want to believe that he is committed to that promise and would save this country from any evil.

I must take this opportunity to commend the contributions of very important institutions like the National Peace Council headed by the Most Rev. (Prof.) Emmanuel Asante and the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), which is headed by Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey. These individuals and institutions they lead would forever be remembered in history for the matured and timely interventions they made in critical times in the 2012 elections. May God bless them together with all others that worked behind the scenes to maintain the peace in Ghana. Forever, it is my prayer and hope that we would continue to appreciate the fact that it is God that installs kings and we should continue to wait on Him for our turn. If it is not today, it may be in the future.

God bless our homeland, Ghana.