Last Monday, I went to the Accra Mall, as one does after work, looking for this and that; but it is also a good place to pick snatches of conversation – the building blocks of our eternal human communication chain.

Monday was a couple of days after the NDC primaries and a group of young men had gathered in front of one of the main supermarkets to chat. As I went past, I heard one of them ask…

What is the point of politics?

The question hung in the air, and for a brief moment I felt like joining them to explore the matter but I decided against the urge. However, on my return I saw the same guys standing there so I approached them and said I had heard the question posed by one of them and I was interested in the issue.

After a brief moment of embarrassment, the one who had posed the question explained that they had been discussing some issues which had led to the question.

Of course, it was quite awkward being interrogated like that on your private conversation but having assured them that I was not some kind of secret agent they lightened up and we had a fascinating discussion.