Se Wose Wope Bawunia A, Bawumia A Na Wo Beny
The die is cast… On Saturday, millions of adult Ghanaians will queue in every city, town and village in all the 16 regions of the country, with their thumps, ready to stamp on the ballot paper and thus determine who will lead this country in the next four years. We are also electing 276 people to represent each constituency in the House of Parliament.
On the Presidential ballot paper are names of 12 valid candidates, their effigies and symbols representing the political parties that prompt them up in the polls.It is a normal democratic exercise we have engaged in every four years, since the people decided in 1992 that the collective decision by the people is far better than one man yelling on us from a rag-tag army.
Thirteen names and symbols are officially on the ballot paper in the presidential vote. But with MaameAkua Donkor joining her ancestors, only 12 will be important in the exercise.
The also runs are certainly not in any order;John Alan Kyeremanteng of the Butterfly Movement, Nana Kwame Bediako who failed in his bid to convert his Third Force into a political Party, Nana Akosua Frimpongmaa, representing the remnants of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party and Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress.
Others are; Christian Kwabena Andrews- Ghana Union Movement, Kofi Apaloo – Liberal Party of Ghana, Daniel Augustus Lartey of Great Consolidated Popular Party and Mohamed Frimpong, representing the National Democratic Party.
There are two others vying as Independent Candidates, they are Kofi Koranteng and George TwumBaeimba.
Like the Biblical expression, more are called but few are chosen. Every analysisindicates that the 10 of the 12 are likely to be cast aside.
Polls upon polls suggest that the combined votes of the 10 would not amount to two per cent. I am of the view that collectively, they would take home close to four per cent, leaving the chunk of 96 per cent to be decided between the two main contenders- Vice-President Alhaji Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia riding the elephant of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) into the vote and former President John DramaniMahamahimself, hoisting the umbrella of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr. Mahama is a former President who has made two unsuccessful attempts to return to the Jubilee House. He is about the only Ghanaian to have really gone through the mill. A former Assembly man, he contested for a seat in Parliament and didrepresent the good people of Bole/Bamboi constituency, in the now Savannah Region for three consecutive occasions.
He was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications and substantive minister in the same portfolio in the John Jerry John Rawlings first and second terms.
When my fellow Ekumfi man, Associate Professor of Law, John Evans Atta-Mills won the presidency after two failed attempts, he was partnered by the History and Communications expert, Mr. John DramaniMahama, who rose to the highest office of the land when the good old Professor visited his ancestors in July 2012.
Mahama contested the 2012 vote on his own against current head of state, Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo and won a nail-biting vote.
A number of polls are tipping him to return to the Jubilee House after Saturday’s vote. But despite the noise of victory dance on the campaign trail, he would acknowledge that this election is far from a done deal. Many obstacles lie in his way.
As you read this piece, neither the Presidential Candidate nor any of his campaign strategists, including Professors, have been able to explain theNDC key policy, the ubiquitous 24-Hour Economy policy, presented on the roof-top as the game-changer.
Asked by a radio host in the Eastern Region to explain himself, the former president shocked listeners by allegedly saying that the 24-hour policy is not compulsory but would be outlined only when he comes into government.
For me, it is all noise with little or no substance. So are NKOKO NKETENKETEN and other animal rearing initiatives.
I am not a fan of the former Head of state on the account of the many scandals that has followed his leadership. From Woyome, Waterville to ISOFOTON, the scandal progressed to Brazilian Embrae, under which the cost four aircraft acquired under his watch from South America, for use by the Ghana Air Force was allegedly inflated.
For me, the scandal reached a crescendo when his biological brother, Samuel Mahama Forster, came down from his sojourn in London with two accomplices to negotiate with the siting Vice-President and later Head of state of the Republic of Ghana, in the process Airbus International soldaircraftto this country,for which the brother was handed 2.7 million Euros under the counter.
Mr. John Dramani Mahama ignominiously wears the badge of Government Official One in the British Crown Court in South London and within Serious Fraud Offices and prosecution in the United States and France.
In any society where sense and sensibility prevails, Mr. Mahama would be in court trying to explain why he should not be in jail, rather than contesting an election to become the Number One Gentleman of the land.
As it is he has a huge chance of returning to Government House with a soiled reputation.
His main challenger, Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia, a fine gentleman, is the first Muslim to vie for the highest office of the land. One of his major attributes is his ability to conduct decent election campaign devoid of rancour and bitterness.
His main policy is to drive this country on Science of Technology in which digitization moves the economy.He calls himself a “man for the future.”
It is becoming abundantly clear that the government and the party that are prompting up Dr. Bawumia have done well for themselves. The Free Senior High School education has no match in Africa. The construction of fishing harbours in Accra, Elmina and Keta, with a number of landing beaches along the coast is a demonstration of how well the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa and his running mate has done well for themselves.
All over the country, various projects such as roads, hospitals and inter-changes across the country make the government of Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo, really accountable to the people.
Unfortunately, the constraints are also many and are cruelly weighing down the Presidential ambitions of the most qualified candidate. The strained economy, a global phenomenon with its stressful impact on Ghanaians is one hindrance that will affect the Economist at the polls.
Unfortunately, people are blaming government for the banking clean-up that led to the collapse of many financial institutions in the country. There are many out there who will take their frustration to the various polling stations.
Barely four days to the polls, a huge crowd demonstrated in Elmina, calling for the re-instatement of the GN Bank. I do not know how that could be done. But with Mr. Mahama promising to return all affected banks to the owners, it is very unlikely that many will turn against Dr. Bawumia at the polls. But there is hope for the first Muslim in Ghana to contest for the right to occupy Jubilee House.
His own demeanor and the policies he advocates are likely to open a window of opportunities for the current Vice-President. A number of polls are predicting 51 percent and above for him. I believe it is possible.
On the campaign trail a group of young men and women follow the Vice President shouting:Se Wose Wope Bawumia A, BawumiaA Na Wo Benya. To wit:If you say you want Bawumia,it is Bawumia that you well get.
If you want my honest assessment on the campaign trail, it is simple. EboQuansah endorses Bawumia, The Vice-President will breast the tape ahead of the NDC candidate and bring hope to millions of Ghanaians.
I rest my case!
Ebo Quansah in Accra
