Ghana's Politics: So Far So Uneasy

Anyone visiting the country will not need anyone else to tell him about the
political heat, undermining and confusion from all the major parties. It is
uncertain whether voters from the main political parties will vote at all or even if
they do they may give their votes to the smaller parties.

Before Prof. Mills came to power, he had to give big promises which he himself knew
he would not be able to fulfil. Some of them were praise-worthy but unpracticable.
They included a sharp reduction of oil prices for motorists, jobs for all Ghanaians,
free school uniforms for all pupils and many more. He promised to continue all
projects and policies Prez Kufuor began.

When he assumed power, jobs for all became jobs for the boys. Instead of an
immediate reduction in fuel prices that was promised during the campaign period,
Ghanaians saw a quadrupling in the price of fuel. Even the jobs that were to be
created for the boys were a forceful snatch of the old jobs that were occupied
already. What comes immediately to mind is the total expulsion of all workers
engaged in the free food programme in schools. The various positions were handed on
a silver platter to the "boys" and "girls" of NDC. Ticket collection at the toilets
built in different communities were forcefully taken over by NDC boys while the
president looked on and seemed to declare in his heart, "bravo boys, now you got the
jobs." Top jobs were also forcefully taken and handed over to NDC members. Prof.
Kenneth Atta Agyemang Attafuah, the boss of National Identification Programme, was
removed without any reason and the job given to an NDC man. The motive is clear. The
late Dr. Francis Appiah of NEPAD suffered a similar fate.

However, this is not the crust of my article. My intention is to talk about the
unprogressive attitudes in both NDC and NPP. Ever since Prof. Atta Mills assumed
power, Flt Lt. J.J Rawlings has never been on good terms with the president.
Rawlings disapproved of the selection of Ministers of state by Prof. Atta Mills,
branding all of them as "TEAM B." Rawlings often called the president as weak and
slow to act. Rawlings wants all the Minsters of NPP to be prosecuted and jailed.
Prof. Mills thinks otherwise. Both of them are now on a collision course, with
Rawlings calling him foolish and weak at any opportunity he gets. This attitude does
not augur well at all. Two factions are being created in the party. Many people feel
that Rawlings has an ulterior motive for the humiliation and the gross disrespect he
has for Prez Atta Mills. His intention, according to observers, is to weaken and
frustrate Prez Atta Mills, and consequently raise his wife to be a presidential
candidate in the next general elections. The recent story about Mrs Rawlings attests
to the intentions of Mr Rawlings.



Due to Rawlings' attitude towards Prez Atta Mills, many have also joined in the
insults of Prez Atta Mills. The most unkindest cut of all was when Mr. Alexander Adu
Gyamfi, a.k.a High priest said on radio that, the President's face looked like that
of a chimpanzee. Many people have downloaded the wrong pronunciation of certain
words during his swearing-in ceremony, on their mobile phones all with the intention
of humiliating him and to make him look foolish and unpopular.

The story is not different in NPP. The quest to find a fitting presidential
candidate has always created problems for the party. NPP lost the elections because
it is believed that supporters of Alan Kyeremateng refused to vote for Nana
Akufo-Addo. The same mistakes are being repeated this time too. The in-fighting
and mudslinging of Alan and Nana is actively dividing the party. There is the
popular belief that the NPP is too much dominated by Akans. Right now there are
five candidates for the party's presidential slot and they are all Akans: Isaac
Osei, John Kwame Kodua, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Frimpong
Boateng. The party can still not attract non-Akans to seek its topmost post.

If these continue, neither NDC nor NPP will be able to come to power with an
absolute majority. ?ny? koraa.


Written by Stephen Atta Owusu
Author:Dark Faces at Crossroads
email:stephen.owusu@email.com