I have this hunch that there is a grand scheme within the NDC to render certain key personalities whose voice and reason have the pride of place in that party redundant if not weightless. I would be surprised if this dynasty is in motion. And the tactless tactics that have been adopted by persons closer to the corridors of power to sideline those who are a threat to the emerging dynasty is conspicuous: offer them (those who are a threat) positions that grant them limited access to the President.

The first casualties in this regard were the Rawlingses who were pruned of their far reaching and over towering influence in a bid to turn the tables in favour of certain elements within the NDC party. And how was this effectively executed after the NDC annexed power in 2008? The title, ‘founding father’ so ascribed to Chairman Rawlings was diluted to read as ‘founding fathers.’ This development among other Machiavellian methods perhaps spurred Mrs Rawlings to contest the late Atta Mills in order wrestle the ownership of the party that was shifting into the bosom of latter day gatecrashers.

Now, with the Rawlingses effectively silenced, have you wondered why Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah who is perceived to be the darling boy of the Rawlingses has been starved of an appointment to contribute his expertise to the development of the country? An old face like Dr Kwesi Botchwey is visibly absent despite his wealth of experience. The least said about Dr Tony Aidoo the better.

And this of course had been the crux of Chairman Rawlings’ constant contention with the late Mills and President Mahama. His occasional booms that popularised the expressions,‘babies with sharp teeth’, ‘greedy bastards’ and ‘boot lickers’ were not for fun. He obviously could not sit idle in the face of a new crop of generation that seems to be deliberating oblivious of the ideals and moral values that form the corpus of the NDC while those who better can entrenched these ideals had been unduly brushed aside.

It is not for nothing that the likes of Alban Bagbin, E.T. Mensah and Cletus Avoka who are politically mature have been relegated and reduced to an unenviable position of the ‘three wise men.’ Alban Bagbin who seems to realise he has been rudely pushed into premature hibernation voiced his frustration and he was rather met with iron gloves from government appointees who are growing their political wings. What Mr Bagbin seems not to notice is the fact that a new dynasty seems to be hatching and those of the old order are gradually being shown the exit or subtly silenced.

Mr Martin Amidu, an experienced lawyer and astute politician, who boldly stood against the rot that was being perpetrated by the key members of this emerging dynasty, was crudely asked to take an early shower. Without doubt, this dynasty from all indications is mostly made up of relatively young men and women who are desperate to have a deeper foothold in matters of the state. A little taste of power has disrupted their good sense of judgment and respect for all elders. No wonder from 2008 to date, immaturity and greed have consumed these young minions and their leaders to preside over the unprecedented cases of corruption that are bleeding the nation to death. I am pretty sure that this was the caution Rawlings tried to communicate to his party men but the ‘greedy bastards’ and the ‘boot lickers’ twisted the import of his message to paint the old man as a demon.

For now, the country is on the brink of deterioration; we are at a crossroad. The President, who is an inextricable part of this dynasty that has plunged the nation into its economic predicaments, in confirming the precarious state of the economy has openly declared that the economy has been reduced to bones. As it stands, if this clique of hot-blooded men and women thinks they can rely on their inexperience by drawing strength from their oratory skills by discarding their forebears, then I must say for they are in for a bitter ride. Those old guards among them, who are watching them silently run the nation into an abyss, should not think they would be spared of the negative repercussions emanating from the massive recklessness and corruption that have rendered the country barren.

Whatever the situation, Ghana must develop. The scarce resources of the nation cannot be spent on projects that will eventually be recycled into the pockets of the members of this dynasty. The John Mahama led administration must sit up to embrace constructive criticisms and sound counsel from those within and without his ‘family’ as stated by Mr Alban Bagbin. Ghana deserves the best and it can only be so if our leaders learn not to weave the nation around a chosen few and the masses defined as appendages of nation building.

SOURCE: OKOFO-DARTEY SAMUEL

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