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Opinions of Saturday, 19 December 2015

Columnist: Fianko, Reagan Michael

Political Syncopates

RIGHT now it looks very much as if the two major political parties in Ghana are in a race to see which one can destroy itself first. While NDC were moving to address their problems, NPP were trying to overcome problems of their own — including difficulties from the primaries and a suspicious of their leadership and protective of the presidential nominee’s reputation, After months of tension between Paul Afoko ,Kwabena Agyepong and Freddie Blay, trust between NPP at both ends of the elephant kingdom had eroded. A fight between the executives and members over a relatively small sum of money had mushroomed into a major confrontation.The NDC maybe spare a bit,but NPP are bent on making history for the wrong reasons.
Their leadership has known no peace ever since Paul Afoko,Kwabena Agyepong took over and would do catastrophic damage to the Party if things don't change by 2016. They keep on inviting a different kind of disaster continuously,and now the inevitable has happened! Afoko,Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe have been slap with indefinite suspension. Arthur Kennedy is set to follow — they are being punish for not being flatterers.Is the NPP the so-called apostles of democracy whose leadership is reluctant to accept dissenting views now? However, all signs pointed to a rocky patch in their relationship — one that Akufo Addo initially moved quickly to shore up but Arthur Kennedy later deepened with a rash of criticism.Both stand to lose more than they would gain from attacking each other, since they appeal to many of the same sorts of voters, especially in urban area, where NPP has been surging. Tearing each other down could aid their rivals, such as NDC — using as much ammunition as needed. ”

TIFF AND TANTRUMS

Why suspend the rebels, or will it bring them to power? This party could have trumpeted the current hardship especially the chronic power outages and constant increment of tariff to push for power in 2016 rather they opted the path of confusion and poisonous infighting. What NPP should know is that they don't need to be friends before they can work together as a team. After all the ultimate beneficiary of their "project' will be Akufo Addo. He is the one who want to be President— and should be able to tame every lion to achieve that dream. If the top echelons in the party accused Wireko Brobbey,Arthur Kennedy,Nyaho Tamakloe and others of flirting with NDC then there is big problem within NPP! Former communication director Arthur Kennedy had said many times before not to allowed themselves to be portrayed as moving backwards from the principles of aspiration and inclusion that are the absolute heart of any successful progressive political project. Either they build on what President Kufour achieved after 2001 and have a chance to succeed, or abandon it and fail.

BUMPY ROAD TO FLAGSTAFF HOUSE

The opposition will find it very though but not impossible in their quest to seat of administration.When faced with two choices, the old Jewish saying goes, choose the third. The general public in Ghana was anxiously awaiting a decision from the NPP headquarters on whether it will suspend the perceived "rebels" or not.With two obvious answers – yes or no – on the table, the higher-ups should have chose the third: Not to tell anything.They are in game of numbers and yet have scattered their figures.In the year 2000 it took a run-off before they came to power,and similar thing happened also in 2008 to NDC. Like it,or loathe it: African sitting Presidents are difficult to beat even when they are not doing well.This is the sad reality which confronts a disorganised opposition."If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand" is not for nothing this saying is in the Bible.They better put their house in order or burst.

FEAST FOLLOWS FAMINE

But every cloud has a silver living. In NPP's case they are two. One is the rapid tariff increase.The other is crude oil price which keep sliding on the world market while the government have the penchant to up it and push on weak local currency.If NPP cannot use these factors to win power then they are in huge mess.

FALSE DAWN OF HOPE

The "sickness" of NPP has given NDC administration false comfort.Their posture suggest that and have overburden Ghanaians with tariff increase.This is clear indication that they are stony-hearted and uncaring towards ordinary man. Today chronic power situation has crippled many businesses in the country.
President John Mahama claim he want to fix the energy crisis permanently.Pessimist say he cannot do it.One thing I don't get it is the President's unwillingness to sack his underperforming ministers.At least Finance and Power ministers should be gone by now.Why are they still there? In the last three years the economy has struggle but the same old face is managing the situation. So if the ruling party is sure the opposition will snatch power will they behave this way? Ghanaians voted for NDC to alleviate the economy hardship they found themselves under the previous regime.But there is nothing to choose between the two.We are in a country where politicians have acquiesced themselves with myopic and sycophants.
I totally disagree when he say,he is on the right track to lead the country into an "upper middle income" status.Mr President,you can do better than this!
Everyone is suffering.The economy hardship is too much to bear.Spending millions of dollars on Metro Mass Transport as re-branding is absurdity.So do those in authority think about the poor? Our politicians are unimaginative but very ostentatious because the least opportunity they will waste state resources.
People are watching with growing dismay about the level of corruption in the country.If government main agenda is:to pass full cost on its citizens yet they themselves are not walking the talk — then as people we should wise up.


REAGAN MICHAEL FIANKO
TRUEMIKKY@YAHOO.COM