The place of God in the affairs of mankind though has been denied by a section of the population, can never be relegated to the background. I believe that there is a Supreme Being that set the world in motion and still rules in the affairs of men. Those who disagree about the existence of God might have a reason, maybe because of the invisibility of God, the grave wickedness of man as well as inexplicable happenings in society. Their disbelief, however, might not deny the existence of God. The belief in the existence of God at least puts man on the path of moral perfection or excellence.

Our belief about God’s existence and His providence shouldn’t put the determination of our success only in God; but on our part as well. However, most people, especially in the country hold the determination of their success and failure outside of themselves (external attribution): a Supreme Being. God rules, but he has put the determination of our successes or failures in our hands. In Genesis 1: 28, the Bible says “And God bless them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Jesus also says in Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

These scriptural passages presuppose that we are the determinant of our successes and survival in this world. This revelation by God was reechoed by one of the greatest behavioural psychologist—B. F. Skinner when he said that we are the architects of our own destiny. As humans, we decide whether we want to succeed or fail. God would not give us success, neither would he let us fail; what he does is that He expects us to use the resources he has deposited in us in our quest to excel. When we succeed in any activity, we do so not because God gave it to us, but rather because we worked hard by using the talents, knowledge, and skills he has deposited in us. Similarly, when we fail, it is because we didn’t utilize the resources God has given us to our advantage! The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party—Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, does not only believe in the providence of God, but also in the benefits of hard work.

Now, in a few days, we would be heading to the polls to elect our leaders for the next four years. Looking at the various presidential candidates vying for the presidency, it is obvious that the standard-bearer of the NPP—Nana Akufo-Addo is the right person for the job. He is going to win the election not only because of his unwavering belief in God as captured in his party’s slogan, “the battle is the Lord’s,” but because he has worked very hard. After his electoral defeat in the last election, he has visited every nook and cranny of the country, and has met with all manner of persons—the young and old, sick and healthy, poor and rich, petty traders and professionals. He believes that success is not determined by wishful thinking or influencing the conscience of people with money as being done by President John Mahama, but by hard work, diligence, and untiring effort. He believes that luck as psychologists would prefer to use, and divine intervention as faith persons would prefer to use, are necessary but not sufficient in defining success; but preparation, planning, vision, and above all diligence are non negotiables in determining one’s success.

Indeed the battle is the Lord’s in this year’s elections. After the hard work by the NPP and their flagbearer, any attempts by the diabolic elements in the NDC to steal the verdict of the people through intimidation by using the security forces, mayhem, and manipulation of the results will be met by the wrath of God. God will surely reward Nana Addo and the NPP the opportunity to lead the country and move it forward as a result of their diligence and determination in executing this year’s elections. They have fought very hard, and God will surely crown their effort with success. When David in 1 Samuel 17: 47 declared that “the battle is the Lord’s” when he was about to face Goliath, he had feverishly prepared for it. He did recount instances where he had overcome such obstacles in the past. No wonder he defeated Goliath; likewise the NPP, by dint of hard work, coupled with their faith in God will surely annihilate the Goliath on their path—the NDC—a weak, visionless, purposeless, idealess, greedy, divisive, and corrupt party.

Fellow Ghanaians, especially those of you who are still undecided and the majority in the NDC who are disgruntled, disappointed, disillusioned, and fed up with the bad performance of your party leadership, we would like to assure you that there is but a step between the NPP and victory, and the NDC and defeat. We would encourage you to look at the 8 years record of positive change by the NPP administration, and the programmes put forward by Nana Akufo-Addo as captured in the manifesto of the party and give them another chance to lead our dear country to the Promised Land.

After working so hard immediately after conceding defeat to our late President Mills and his failed administration, God will surely give Nana Addo and the NPP a convincing and resounding victory on December 7. The battle is almost won because God will not forget the labour and good intentions of Nana Addo and the NPP, and the excruciating economic pains we are going through under the President Mahama led government. Don’t sit on the fence, be part of the winning team. Tell your family members, friends, loved ones, and neighbours to vote massively for Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP because they carry the mind of the Lord to transform our economy. The battle indeed has been the Lord’s. God bless Ghana! Source: Kingsley Nyarko, Psychologist, Accra (kingsleynyarko73@yahoo.com)