...And The Mockery They Make

In the contemporary global socio-political and economic order, with its attendant dominant capitalistic and neo capitalistic democratic systems, national and intra-national challenges have become sophisticated and highly interwoven. Moreover, with the advent of globalization, various national and regional systems have become highly competitive. These phenomena call for national leaders who have demonstrated the capacity to actively engage their counterparts at the global political arena with measurable pragmatic achievements.

Ghana as a model of democracy in sub-Sahara Africa needs people who have exhibited time-tested leadership qualities that are essential for efficiency and excellence to be presidents and not just passive participants of international conferences and ceremonies whose only stock in trade is constant globe-trotting. Ghana will be the loser if her citizens sacrifice excellent, state of the art, political and human capitals for mediocrity and cronyism in their choice for presidents. Ghana deserves all round presidents who possess intellectual, executive and political capital with the capacity to lead leaders and achieve results not just non performing “yes sir” types who warm seats during international competitive engagements.

In most democratic societies, where the presidential system of government is practiced, the office of the president signifies the highest executive office of the land, and therefore is well revered and held in high esteem. In fact, the presidency typifies the apex of all political, executive and administrative positions both at the private and the public sectors. In principles and by constitutional demands, presidents are the heads of all public higher academic institutions (chancellors). Above all, presidents are the only Commanders in-Chief of their respective Military, Police and all National Intelligence and Security Agencies. One may also add that symbolically, presidents are fathers (or mothers in the case of women presidents) of all the citizens in their countries. Matured, peace-loving, and socially connected presidents, whose vision cuts across tribal and ethnic boundaries are therefore assets to their countries.

In the United States and other western countries, it is a common knowledge that presidential materials are “identified and groomed” in most cases, by their guardians, peers and corporate political interest groups and organizations for several years before they lay claim to the presidency. As a rule, the identified presidential materials go through years of active on-the- job apprenticeship at the grassroots levels and in both public and private services and when they proof equal to their tasks, they become too conspicuous to be ignored by their political parties and fellow countrymen.

For instance, the US, President George W. Bush (served as Air force Pilot, Energy Businessman, Sport Administrator, Political Strategist, and Governor before his controversial win of the Presidency in 2000). His father, G.H.W. Bush (served as a US Army Pilot, Congressman, Chairman of Republican National Committee, Ambassador, CIA Director, Vice President and President). Bill Clinton (served as a state Attorney, Governor, and President).

The late Ronald Reagan (served as a Social Activist, Actor, Governor and President). J.F. Kennedy (served as a Naval Officer, Congressman, Senator and President). Jimmy Carter (served as a Naval Officer, Governor, and President). Gerald Ford (served as a Naval Officer, a Lawyer, Congressman for 25 years, Vice President and later appointed President to replace the then embattled President Richard Nixon after the infamous Watergate scandal). Last but not the least example is the good old Abraham Lincoln who served as Army Captain, Lawyer, Congressman, and President. It is obvious that before they contest the presidency, they first obtain considerable amount of personal accomplishments in both private and public sectors, especially military services before they finally get the nod to contest the high office of president.

The same is true of places like France and South Africa in recent times. Again, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany where the Prime Ministerial and the Chancellorship systems are employed, the same principles and conventions have been followed up to date (the bottom-up approach). In all the above instances, prior on-the-job experiences serve as road maps for the respective leaders, and a standard measure for their electorates to compare various candidates and their presidential capabilities based on their accomplishment at the local and states levels and the values they share.

Regrettably, the same cannot be said in Ghana, the black but shinning star of Africa and specifically, about the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidature. And so we have a situation where individuals are taunted as presidential materials just because they have served in government as Deputy Ministers and Ministers of sector ministries for a year or two without any previous measurable professional and political achievements even at the ward levels.

Yet still there are those who want to be president because they have been “successful” spokesmen and T.V. commentators. There are those who have also ascribed collective national achievements such as soccer world cup appearance to themselves as their singular efforts. That is somewhat ridiculous. Others also claim, they deserve the presidency because they have successfully managed health posts and automatic teller machines (ATM) beyond the shores of Africa. What a mockery! What prevent these later day saints from starting their political careers first at the District Assembly levels, and then to the constituency/parliamentary levels. Some cannot even fathom that running for the presidency of Ghana is different from running to become students’ representative council (SRC) president.

The irony is that in a real world situation, on the Ghanaian political battlefield where all electoral laws and regulations are fairly applied, most if not all, of these people will have a hard time winning their respective constituencies, and yet they are obsessed with delusion and selfish unachievable ambitions. This might as well be an indication that the standard of the Ghanaian presidency has been taken to its lowest ebb by President Kuffuor’s NPP government. To the extent that others are clamoring to ascend to the presidency as a matter of birth right. What a fallacy! God save our motherland.

The NPP would have done a great deal of service to their followers if they had put in place preliminary internal voting mechanisms to sieve their presidential aspirants to four or five people before their national delegate congress. Arguably, a selection made up of Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Nana Akufo Addo, Alan Kyeremanteng, Jake Obestebi Lamptey, and Captain Nkrabea Effa Dartey would have been more appealing to the NPP delegates and Ghanaians in general because these altogether, portray a national balance of some sort. The rest of them (the fifteen or so) can best be ministers of various sectors in case NDC refuse to win again (NDC actually won the 2004 presidential election).

In short, the socio-political dynamics of the 21st century require a country like Ghana, which serves as a democratic role model for third world economies, to elect what I call “state of the art presidents” who will set their priorities right and go beyond political rhetoric and propaganda slogans. Presidents who shall truthfully and honestly promise only what they can do and actually do more than what they promise to do without overstating achievements and understating failures.

Under the prevailing circumstances surrounding the NPP presidential race, which has so far been characterized with accusations and counter accusations of fraud, cheating, favoritism, vote buying, and exploitation of potential delegates, not to mention pervasive corruption, narcotic drug trafficking and political malfeasance (sweet, sugar-mouth Kwamena Bartels and the Anlo fiasco), I emphatically state without apologies that the NPP’s so-called positive change has been a disaster at best.

President Kuffuor’s zero tolerance for corruption has become known as an empty political slogan. In stead, his alleged Castle kickbacks and the Hotel Kuffuor scandals have become breeding grounds for golden age of corruption for some of his NPP folks. I solemnly urge him to try for God sake, to sustain the political stability that we have enjoyed since 1981. Even then, the truth still remains that Ghana deserves better than what NPP is offering her. God bless our homeland Ghana. “And give us our best, not our worst President and MPs, come December 2008 and beyond”. INSHA ALAAHU.