For Atik Mohammed, a policy analyst of the PNC, to suggest that the President is now a global model because the latter took a photograph right in front of a CNN logo after an interview is rather trivial. This apparent mockery of the President is an affront to the Presidency. It is so unfortunate that politics has inflated an insignificant issue into a political football that everybody wants to take a kick.

Inasmuch as Atik Mohammed has the right to freely express his opinions, it would have been imperative if he had taken a proper or careful look at what occasioned the President’s interview with the CNN and whether the President was able to effectively represent the country’s interest. In other words, a section of Ghanaians has extended or focused their energies on a photo that has no bearing on national development. It is extremely surprising that so called media practitioners and social commentators are not subjecting the President’s views during the said interview to scrutiny.

It is a pity that Ghana’s politics is overly awash with such gibberish. I am not a careless avowed critic of the government neither am I a boot licker of the NPP. However, I get irritated when there are so many issues of national importance which need critical mention but are relatively given little attention. Sometimes, it is hard to believe when well placed individuals who can sting government out of its slumber rather engaging in pettiness. This sort of pettiness was exhibited by the NDC and NPP in the events leading to the 2012 general elections. Instead of issues based campaigns, you had persons referring a particular presidential candidate as a dwarf and so proud. People bought into it without recourse to what the candidate was offering to Ghanaians. The tribal cards were intelligently shuffled and both major parties benefitted. Issues that were to bring food on our tables and drive the economy forward were treated as trash.

We must be serious as a country. Our political leaders must be seen to be responsible in their attempt to save the economy from the dire economic crises confronting the economy. Social commentators and analysts should as well channel their expertise to expose the weaknesses and extremities of the government of the day. Otherwise, we shall perpetually draw water and hew wood for foreigners and our young ones will queue up in front of embassies for visa in search of greener pastures.

Admittedly, I do not see the President as committing in heinous crime for merely taking a photograph in a foreign land. Neither has he being childish for his actions. Other Presidents visit our country or other countries and they take photographs. May be Atik Mohammed or his friends who are similar in thought on this matter can help me answer these questions: when President Obama came to Ghana, did he not take memorable pictures at the Cape Coast castle? When Bill Clinton visited Ghana, did he not take pictures? When the Queen visited Ghana those years past, did she not pose for some pictures? Why are we then blowing this matter out of proportion? It is my desire that Ghana will get to a point where we shall as a people be collectively interested in matters that directly affect our survival. Already, the unemployment rate is asphyxiating university graduates. Loans that they can secure to start their own businesses are have high interest rates strapped around them. I stand to be corrected; the cheapest interest rate on a loan in Ghana is around twenty seven (27) percent. The energy crisis and recent tariffs increment still remains a dilemma. The GYEEDA, SADA and dubious Judgement Debt debacles are draining the country dry. And we still have time to talk about a photo the President took while on a trip. Good God, have mercy on us.

I can only reduce the President’s bashing on this photo matter to pure mischief and cheap political vendetta. Let us tell the President to inform the good people of Ghana the benefits that were accrued to the people of Ghana as a result of his visit or what some are referring to as a tour. Atik Mohammed should perhaps apply his expertise as policy analyst to rightly divide and devise the positives or negatives associated with the President’s brief sojourn abroad. Until we move beyond this elementary posturing and assume a serious stance on national matters, strangers will take full custody of our natural resources, expatriates will spit on our brothers and sisters, donors will dictate to us concerning what is good and bad for us while we blindly tear one another up. Let us stop those commonplace cacophonies or we shall remain common among the colossus.

SOURCE: OKOFO-DARTEY SAMUEL

E-MAIL: sodesq2000@yahoo.com