The song “Mahunu Difference” by the new gospel sensation Megalina, seems ideal for NPP’s 2008 campaign theme. As the presidential campaign begins in earnest with the selection of Prof. Mills as the flag bearer of NDC, NPP must start to tell its own success stories- past, present, as well as future prospects. NPP must also contrast the feat of the government of President John Agyekum Kufour’s (JAK) and that of his predecessor, Jerry “Boom” Rawlings (JJ). And what are the differences?
First, under JAK, Ghanaians have enjoyed an unprecedented height of freedom of expression and speech comparable to, if not better than, that of advanced nations such as the United States and Britain. Contrary, JJ’s government was characterized by gratuitous brutalities against innocent individuals, groups and organizations that dared to speak critically about his autocratic rule. Ghanaians can attest that JJ’s period was and still known as the dark period of the nation’s history, so the difference is clear.
Second, the macro economic accomplishments chalked by the NPP government are nothing less than excellence when compared with JJ’s period. Ghana now enjoys low inflation, low interest rate, stable exchange rates, huge cash reserves, huge inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI), etc. which is unmatched in Sub-Saharan Africa, unlike the careless economic policies implemented under JJ’s government that left Ghana almost broke. Yes, detractors would argue that the so-called economic successes are yet to trickle down to ordinary citizens. To them I say that it is easy to destroy than to build. Ghana’s economy was mismanaged for 21 years out of its 50-year post-independence history and its economy wrecked and jettisoned almost to oblivion. Six years is not enough to rectify or undo the mismanagement of 21 years. The important thing, though, is that the nation is being steered towards the right strategic direction. Again the difference is clear.
Third, Ghanaians are now witnessing the most ambitious infrastructure development in every “nook” and “cranny” of the country since the first republic. To mention just a few of those projects are construction of major network of roads, upgrade of primary and secondary schools, rehabilitation of hospitals and construction of new ones, and building of regional court houses, etc. Given the current pace of development in the country, only Heaven knows where our dear country would have been today had they (NPP) being in power for half of the 21 years JJ squandered. 21 years are more than the length of time most of the Asian Tigers (nations) grew from developing to medium income nations. JJ’s reckless policies not only stagnated Ghana’s economic development, it also plunged the nation into economic deprivation and subjugation.
And so fellow country men, there is a clear and convincing difference in the achievements of the two parties and their respective governments. Given the current economic development readiness of the country, the NPP by any measurement far surpasses NDC in governance. And so, “yahunu difference” and we are not going back!
Alexandria, Virginia
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