By Margaret Jackson

There is this big housefly that the Fantes call “Wansema Pobi”, which after feeding on human feaces, will stop at nothing but continue to make annoying buzzing noise until somebody decides to call it to order. In fact the noise that comes from this Wansema Pobi is so offensive that your best bet is to find something to brush it off. I have been compelled to compare Adwoa Safo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Dome-Kwabenya in this year’s election to this housefly, because ever since she won her party’s primary, she has been buzzing around just basking in insults upon insults rather than telling his constituents what she brings to the table.

Adwoa Safo, a so-called lawyer who in my estimation cannot prosecute or defend a case, has been going round heaping terrible insults upon President Mills, a man who is older and wiser than his jelly-curled and happy skin bleaching dad, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, leader of the Kristo Asafo Church.

Adwoa Safo, who as a daughter of a church leader knows very well about what the bible teaches concerning respect for the elderly, probably is thinking that heaping insults on President Mills and the National Democratic Party (NDC) is what is going to get her elected to parliament in the upcoming elections. This young lady who knows nothing about politics and how it is played has developed a sharp tongue like Frances Essiam and believes that by jumping from one podium to another and using lies to insult people is the only way to do the trick: get her elected.

Adwoa Safo, who joined the Muslim community to worship at Dome Pillar Two Mosque and also to formally introduce herself, minced no words in describing President Mills “as the most deadly hypocrite of our time.” Does Safo knows what the word hypocrite means? According to the dictionary, a hypocrite, is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs and principles among others, that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.So does this cup rather fits Adwoa Safo, the pastor’s daughter, who does not have what it takes to become a lawmaker?

It is true that elections are about winning and that there is no price for coming second or last, but in selling your qualities and strengths to constituents, one must rather tell the people what you can do and do differently from your opponent. You must be able to let the electorate know that if you are given the mandate you will perform better than the servant (The parable of the talents) who was given one bag of gold but decided to dig a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

I am giving Adwoa Safo free coaching. As a candidate it’s about what you can do to lift people up from their current despondency. It is about programmes you can develop to help move your area forward. It is definitely not about verbal abuse. It is definitely not about lies. It is equally good to say that it is not about disrespecting people. Because if Adwoa Safo’s party, the NPP did a lot in their eight years in power, Safo will not be jumping from podium to podium today canvassing for votes. She would be sleeping throughout the electioneering campaigns because her work would have been done already.

Adwoa Safo was also reported to have advised Ghanaians to be wise as snakes during the 2012 elections. It is good for this lady to have pointed this thing out. Indeed, we Ghanaians who can read through the lines will take her advice to the bank. But what Safo must know is that by being wise as snakes, we Ghanaians will never bring the looting task force (NPP) to continue from where they left off.

Also, I will advice Safo to do well to desist from insulting the elderly who are older enough to become her parents. Politics should never give Safo the license to slight people. She is just young and in her effort to become a parliamentarian she should not cut corners but bring out a programme that makes sense to develop her area.

Safo also stated during the visit to the mosque that Nana Akufo-Addo has carefully developed a programme of action that will move Ghana from a raw material producing country, to an industrialized country. What programme? If Akufo-Addo has such a programme why did he not release it during the 2008 electioneering campaign or at best why did he not release such a programme when he was serving in the Kufour administration? Does it mean that if Akufo-Addo has anything better to offer Ghanaians he can only do it only and only if Ghanaians elect him to become president of the land.

The NPP gang including Safo have been going round lambasting President Mills of doing nothing. They have been comparing their eight (8) years in power to Mills’ three (3). This is a travesty of comparison. In life we compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges. If NPP wants a better gauge they should rather compare Kufour’s first three (3) years to that of President Mills first three years. But this looting crew is forcing Ghanaians to compare President Mills three (3) to that of Kufour’s eight (8) years. It this possible? It that reasonable? It that the honourable thing to do?

One thing Safo should know is that development is not about sharing money among the few. It goes far beyond that. If you live in your area where there are no gutters and people suffer from perennial rains, if you do not have electricity, if the main road to your area is impassable and water is a big problem, and a certain government comes to power and addresses some of these problems, you must thank God and conclude that, these actions are more than putting money in your pocket.

Adwoa, just think through this and reframe your campaign message otherwise you will fall flat in the hole you are digging. A word to the wise…..

magjackson80@yahoo.com