Which one of the two largest political parties in Ghana, The NDC and the NPP, ended 2005 on a high note of optimism, and looked forward to 2006 with feelings of rejuvenation from the grassroots ranks to national executives? level? Both parties shed their respective chairmen, each nearing his octogenarian mark, sweeping them away from office, in a wham, bang, no thank you fashion!.

The NPP?s Harona Esseku withdrew at the 11th hour, to avoid total humiliation at the polls, without a whimper from the rank and file. It appears many NPP supporters were glad to see him go. The NDC?s Dr Obed As! amoah fought bravely to defeat on December 23, 2005, his late apology for his perceived wrongdoing was adjudged by pundits to be ?too little too late? and, ?a day late a cedi short? to make any impact on delegates. Were these simple cases of ?the old order changeth, yielding place to the new??

Both were replaced by relatively younger Chairmen with relatively similar academic pedigree: new NPP Chairman Peter Mac Manu, heretofore called Mr Manu, does not hold a doctorate degree in the same way his predecessor Harona Esseku had no doctorate degree, but new NDC Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei, heretofore called Dr.K, holds a doctorate degree just like his predecessor Dr Obed Asamoah. Psychology and Philosophy, take your pick. Mr. Manu of NPP is reputed to possess gazillions of money; Dr. K of NDC is known to be cerebral, if you will, ! brainy. Thus NPP chose Money and NDC chose Brains. Brain Power versus Money Power; which party has the tilt?

Chairman Peter Mac Manu of the NPP is viewed by two NDC lynchpins, Nana Alex Asamoah of Western Region and Mr. D. Anang, Greater Accra NDC Regional Chairman as a worthy opponent. Dr K, formerly an effective leader of the NDC Majority in parliament with strong organizational and strategic skills is a man with class, sophistication and efficiency. In a foreword on March 14th, 2002, to the Great Book ?Negative Change in Ghana part 1, Authored by the Venerable Mr. Kwasi Sarpong, Dr K says inter alia, ?Obviously, a mere transfer of power through the ballot box constitutes only a part of a successful democratic experiment. The real test of democracy lies in the extent to which our political leaders respect fundamental rights of freedoms, apply the rule of law across board, practice go! od governance and improve the economic and social conditions of the people??.Regrettably the NPP government of ?positive change?, which claims to be the chief exponent of these democratic principles, has so far preached virtue and practiced vice.? True.

Both Mr. Manu and Dr K therefore come to town with good credentials. NPP and NDC can thus be said to have made wise investments in their future with two great choices. Which of the two however can deliver the one and only elusive victory in December 2008 for their parties? Will NPP stay in power ?forever?? Will NDC snatch power in 2008?

EVERYTHING CHANGES, NOTHING STAYS FOREVER

John Boadu, the new NPP Youth Organizer said! in a Solidarity Statement to NDC Congress December 22, 2005 that NPP will be in power for the next 20 years. Why didn?t he say NPP will rule forever? John Boadu recognizes that nothing is forever and NPP?s rule can end someday, that someday being 20 years from hence. Is he an eternal optimist or wishful thinker? New NDC National Propaganda Honcho Fiifi Kweitey would not agree with Boadu and would declare that December 2008 will see the ouster of NPP from power, not 20 years from now. Fiifi Kweitey?s statements imply that everything changes; nothing is permanent, including the power NPP wields which constitutionally ends 0n January 6, 2009. He understands that NDC will not automatically return to power, unless they work hard and present an attractive agenda to the electorate, which the new leadership under Dr K is poised to do. Likewise, NPP will not automaticall! y retain power if they do not convince the electorate. How then should these new Chairmen handle the deck of cards they have been dealt, specifically the past and the present? Which of the two holds the short end of the stick? Let?s begin with Mr. Manu?s Opus. Can he make beautiful music for NPP?

Mr. MANU?S OPUS: MONEY TO NPP?s RESCUE?

Mr. Manu?s task is certainly heavier than what his predecessor, Harona Esseku, faced. In 2000, the ?positive change? strategy had worked well for the NPP. Many were those who were tired of seeing the same faces rule Ghana for 19 years. In 2004, the ?so far so good? anthem nearly torpedoed NPP because of their lackluster performance. But they may have been saved by the bell, so ! to speak. They appealed to the electorate that NDC had 8 years in office (not the19 years?) and therefore they also should be allowed to rule for similar number of years to complete their program. In 2004, Harona Esseku went into the elections with a nation torn between giving NPP one more term to see whether they would do any better than their dismal first term. Would Ghanaians feel their lives have been positively changed by NPP?s rule and so would be better off in 2008 than they were in 2000?

Though NPP continue with their propaganda of ?Blame NDC FIRST? for all their shortcomings, and demonize Jerry Rawlings as the second coming of Lucifer, the electorate is awake and refuses to buy into that tired yarn. In, 2005, the fifth year of NPP?s rule, the electorate is already holding NPP accountable for its own record and not buying anymore excuse! s. The NPP record which Mr. Manu must deal with include, but not limited to, CORRUPTION, EXCESSIVE PER DIEM FUELED FOREIGN TRAVELS, INEFFICIENCY, INEFFECTIVENESS, EMPTY PROMISES, as the people of Tamale would tell them over the inhuman suffering and degradation they are going through by lack of Water (despite NPP electoral promises). NPP Regional Minister is quick to blame ?successive? governments for lack of population control as the cause of water shortage, without providing statistics of any kind. Which means NPP has no solution to the current water problem except their usual BAOBU (Blame all others but us) syndrome. It is plain to see from a dispassionate look at the Tamale water problem a symptom across the nation,of crippling poverty and helplessness around the countryside, in the villages and hamlets, forcing people to migrate in droves to urban centers within the past 5 years of NPP cost- recovery- without- amelioration -to- the- socially- handicap! ped era. Before NPP?s time, the relatively minor migration was almost limited to Accra, where villagers came to sojourn with their relatives working in the Ministries and Companies.

2008 campaign has already arrived in town.

How will Mr. Manu handle NPP?s dirty corrupt NTAMA (cloth)? The well written book, ZERO TOLERANCE, Public Sector Corruption in Ghana, by Hon Iddrisu Haruna, MP for Tamale South, says at page 3 that ? The pandemic of corruption in Ghana and its extremely negative impact on Socio-economic development and the fight against poverty in the country, have become matters of public concern??This concern with corruption in Ghana is also being vigorously pursued by Ghanaians themselves, who now talk openly about how their everyday lives are permeated by behaviours a! nd values which are unethical and contribute to the entrenchment of norms perpetrated by corrupt politicians??

What then are some specific instances of NPP corruption that impact the everyday lives of Ghanaians which are ?unethical and contribute to the entrenchment of norms perpetrated by corrupt (NPP) politicians?? How do they explain to Ghanaians that NPP made the right decisions that include the 1.7 million dollar carpeting of Ministers? bungalows and the Castle which already had running water ought to take precedence over provision of potable water to the masses? $1.7 million would surely have improved Water Delivery System in Tamale and other places. Carpets for Ministers or Potable water for the Electorate! The Non-Egalitarian NPP government chose Carpets over Potable Water!

The following unethical behaviors have taken place under NPP:

1. Starting with The President himself with his side-kick, so-called farmer Marfo and 41 million cedis renovation of his personal property at HIPC Junction. The money was ?pilfered? from State Coffers before Farmer Marfo came forth with his cockamamie story.

2. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, then Chief of Staff at the Castle has not fully satisfied onus as to why he paid to himself 150 million CEDIS from the emergency fund meant to pay for variation cost on the renovation of the Castle. A proper inquiry, not that sham NPP whitewash, will give him opportunity to fully clear the air.

3. Thomas Broni, then Deputy Minister, reportedly collected 55,000 US Dollars! from the Forestry Commission for the purchase of a 30,000 US Dollar Vehicle. The Sahara Oil Scandal, Isaac Edumadze (Mansions), Shelkh I.C. Quaye (Refuse Contracts), Dr Richard Anane ( No need to mention), Kwamena Bartells( 188 acres of Tema Land),JH Mensah ( 402 million Cedis ?Awam? bungalow renovation) cannot pass any thorough corruption inquiry.( List of NPP Ministers? Corrupt Practices cannot all be mentioned here)

4. The Hotel Kufuor $3.5 million Saga, involving the President?s children, which CHRAG tells us they have investigated, which report we are eagerly waiting to read about.

The above is just the tip of the iceberg involving NPP officials, which will likely haunt NPP?s 2008 effort. So Mr. Manu has his work cut out for him.

In the 2000 elec! tion, despite their acrimonious primaries, in which JH Mensah called J.A. Kufuor a rotten cassava, with Nana Akufo Addo following suit, the NPP contestants came together rather quickly to face the NDC. In the 2008 Campaign, 6 putative contestants, all ministers, as well as Arthur Kobina Kennedy the Corruption Crusader from the US are revving up to succeed Mr. Kufuor. How is NPP?s cohesion likely to be this time, if the campaign turned ugly?

The ?war? between Hawa Yakubu Ogede and Theresa Tagoe is known to every school child in Ghana. How does Mr Manu intend to put out any flames that may erupt between Hawa, his 1st Vice Chair and MP cum Minister Theresa? Two strong powerful women, each supported by equally powerful factions in the party. Does Hawa still have links to h! er Nigerian source of funds?

Alhaji Mockhtar Bamba is a wounded, defeated Castle loyalist. His supporters and those of Lord Commey, National Organizer, whom he challenged for the latter?s position, fought at the NPP Congress and spilled blood. Bamba went on to write his own ?Stolen Verdict?. Will Mr. Manu assuage feelings here to enable the combatants tolerate one another and work together?

The mother of all scandals facing NPP is the Harona Esseku ?Castle kickback Scandal?. The last has not been heard of that scandal, though pro-government journalists have mounted spirited attempts at ?squashing? that volatile campaign issue. What would Mr. Manu do to salvage NPP?s scandalous reputation?

Money, Money, Money!!! Can Mr. Manu?s money buy th! e electorate?s conscience and douse flames and cover possible pitfalls partly alluded to above? Will Mr. Manu?s Money buy Love that is Love fest with the electorate?

DOCTOR K. IS IN THE NDC HOUSE.

Dr K, the new NDC chairman has sounded the right note from the outset. He will tap the rich experience of his predecessor Dr Obed Asamoah in the battle for 2008. He has acknowledged that the task is Herculean and every able bodied NDC member is needed in the campaign. The new Chairman intends to ensure that the party remains united and everyone is utilized in the field they are most likely to contribute effectively. The NDC needs strategy, strategy and strategy in addition to organization, organization and organization to effectively marshal all its resources to avoid the pitfalls of 2004. The defeat in 2000 may be tagged to ! destiny, but not that of 2004.

There is a strong belief backed by unveiled evidence that NDC Flag Bearer did not lose Election 2004, despite the NDC?s inept monitoring across the country. NDC has gone to court and obtained an injunction against Electoral Commission from destroying ballots cast in 2004. It is the intention of NDC to challenge the results as soon as they see a Gazette from the Electoral Commission certifying the 2004 Presidential Results. As of now, they claim only the Parliamentary Results have been gazetted. The President is in office based on provisional results declared and until the final results are published, in a Gazette, going to Court would be fruitless. At this point it does seem to be the case that NDC would very much like to set the records straight. Professor Mills has served notice to foreign diplomats and all at NDC Congress in Koforidua, that any repetiti! on of that scandalous rigging by NPP will not be tolerated in 2008. This offers Dr K. an opportunity not to focus attention on this matter but simply encourage the NDC committee headed by Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Squadron Leader Clend Sowu and Kofi Portuphy to let the truth prevail.

Frances Assiam, former NDC Women?s Coordinator has divorced NDC. In her parting words, Ms Assiam felt NDC did not appreciate her enough. She therefore announced her resignation on radio. By so doing, she cut off any dynamism of interaction with her former party and let go of her commitment and engagement to the NDC. NDC should understand that the moment of victory is the moment of greatest peril and so must not engage in public debate over this divorce. Dr K should not have much to worry about, even if unfriendly forces attempt to use this divorce negatively. He should accept this divorce in good faith for the betterment ! of his party.

Now that the divisive fracas between the Founder and the former Chairman is behind the NDC and Dr K enjoys the goodwill of majority of NDC supporters, conflicting signals should not come from the leadership. Till a Flag Bearer is elected, Dr K should be the ?face of the NDC?, with the Founder maintaining discreet presence. No doubt the Founder means well, but his words are tantamount to negative interpretation by forces ever ready to paint him unfairly as the ?bete noire?of Ghana Politics. NDC can do without that distraction from the NPP.

So far, everything points to the NDC having better feelings about their new executives. The rank and file feels rejuvenated. They concede the fact that NPP has access to money they don?t have, but say no amount of NPP money will equate the hard work NDC ! intend to do, walking from house to house in the whole of Ghana. They will do word of mouth campaign. They will encourage Ghanaians to take NPP money but vote their conscience, because NPP?s money is both illegally and ?legally? stolen from taxpayers.

Dear Reader and potential voter, Brain and Money, which one will you pick?

2006 Mojo Odyssey sets off.

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