Ghana's 2008 Elections - Hope Versus Fear.

The themes for the 2008 elections are becoming clearly defined as we get closer to the election. As we listen to the flag bearers of the various parties, especially the ruling New Patriotic Party (N.P.P) and the National Democratic Congress -(NDC )we hear two very distinct themes.

The N.P.P is a party with strong democratic traditions, a fact that its opponents even attest to. The NPP represents hope for a prosperous future, and it is presenting same through its flag bearer. Hope for a sustained economic growth that will support property ownership. You hear the N.P.P flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo speaking about indigenous capitalism. You hear Nana Akufo Addo---the future President of Ghana, predicting an end to the Guggisberg economy that the country has inherited since 1919.

N.P.P represents the hope of affordable housing, affordable health insurance, Capitation grant that makes it possible for children to afford basic education. N.P.P represents the hope for Ghana that is free from fear and repression. Free speech anchored on transparent good governance. For the first time in the country's history, a sitting head of state, His Excellency John Agyekum Kuffour has opened his home to the searching glare of inquisitive journalists. That is the hope and freedom the 2008 election is predicated upon.

Ghana is at the cusp of transitioning from a third world economy to middle income economy. NP.P represents hope of economic empowerment of Ghanaians. Indigenous capitalism as propounded by its flag bearer will empower local entrepreneurs to generate wealth, thereby improving the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian.

NPP represents the hope for human development by creating a society in which the welfare of children, the poor, the old and the vulnerable in society are taken care of through the creation of human services agencies that will cushion the poor, such as the Ministry of Children and Families, and the recent program which seeks to give cash assistance to the poor and others.

The NDC flag bearer Prof. Atta Mills and his party on the other hand represent fear. What you hear from the former" Asomdweehene" is an apocalyptic prediction of doom and destruction if Ghanaians perchance exercise their wishes contrary to his. The fear of imaginary rigging of an election that has not been held. While Prof. Atta Mills is disingenuously planting doubt in people's minds about bloated voters’ register in Ashanti constituencies, he has kept quiet about equally possibly bloated registers in his NDC "World Bank".

The NDC flag bearer arrogantly wants Ghanaians to think that the fourth Republic was a gift from a benevolent dictator, J.J Rawlings,"Junior Judas" therefore if his protégé, Prof. Atta Mills does not get power then Ghana deserves to burn. It must be pointed out to those who think like Prof. Atta Mills that Rawlings did not bring democracy to Ghana; in fact he stole democracy from Ghanaians by overthrowing the democratically elected Liman’s government.

It is only a warped mentality that sees restoring democracy that has been hijacked as a benevolent act worth praising as democratic credential The use of fear as a tool to rig elections is not new and it is not limited only to Ghana. However, in other places, politicians use fear in terms of protecting their people from external aggression. For example, in the USA, the Republicans talk about defending the citizens against terrorism from external extremists. In the case of NDC, it uses fear to threaten the very existence of the people who are supposed to put it in power.

The P/NDC was born out of AK47, therefore the use of atavistic vandalism and threats are part and parcel of its pedigree. As the campaigning is heating up, Prof. Mills is shedding his sheep clothing and we are going to see the true wolf that he is made up of, which made him comfortable with Rawlings for that long.

The use of fear and intimidation as a political tool has become an integral part of the N.D.C political culture. A party with a history of a leader and President who physically assaulted his former vice President,Hon Arkaah. The party whose founder has a track record of using abductions and killings to silence the masses and the judiciary. The party that uses shit bombing in its attempt to cow the press.

In its attempt to use threats and intimidation to tilt the results of the impending elections in its favor, the N.D.C has woefully muffled its message to the electorate. We are confident that in the objective world of the Ghanaian electorate, the message of hope and economic renaissance will triumph over the message of boom and doom, threats of cataclysmic destruction and carnage that NDC is feeding on to Ghanaians.

Long Live Ghana.