Osafo-Maafo: I am the man to beat Mills

In less than a month for the NPP delegates to go to the polls for the selection of the flagbearer, the activities on the campaign trail have intensified but in the end the winner will emerge for the party to present one front.

Our current political dispensation coupled with our call for economic renaissance, has propelled the emergence of various schools of thoughts with the ultimate purpose of exerting impact on the national debate regarding who has the solid track records, endears to the floating voters, capable of beating Prof.Mills and ultimately deserves to take over the mandate from President Kufour, come 2009.The stakes are very high due to the current economic and political dispensation in which Ghana finds itself and the various calls for acceleration in all developmental policy implementations.

As both the NPP and the NDC have already embarked upon deploying all their arsenals for a political showdown, it becomes highly important that we reconsider most of the schools of thoughts regarding who should take the mandate from President Kufour, in 2009.The various, accusations and counter accusations are all features of maturing democracies and hence are all significant only if the former is exerted more constructively without any cynical preludes.

In the end, Ghana is for us all so we need to build it with exemplary decency. Some views expressed across political circles sound synonymous to one another; however, a detailed analysis of them establishes clear distinction. The various views stem from the fact that the presidency is the highest office of the land and in this regard, a person vying for the presidency should be someone who has been tested and met the test of time. A candidate who has proven beyond all doubts with the least opportunity that availed itself that he can lead Ghana through difficult times and good times with the sole purpose of moving Ghana to a middle income status with all the technological advancement to meet the demands of the 21st century in a more rapid fashion. Other schools of thoughts argue that it should be someone who has effected permanent positive transformation on Ghana to the extent that the foot prints are still recapitulating.

A sampled view of some NPP members including some of the delegates present the view that there is the need to give the NPP’s nod to a visionary leader who has solid track records not just in his personal life but in his service to the Nation as a public servant. I asked as to why this should be the standard and the answers were that Ghana’s current urge for a more accelerated economic growth and development in addition to our quest for economic renaissance, calls for visionary leaders and no experimentation. This explains their current settling on Hon. Osafo-Maafo for the flagbearership of the NPP. This is a man who reaches across the aisle in getting major legislations passed in parliament. He is more appealing to both independent and swing voters.

OSAFO-MAAFO’S INDICATION

It was not just a mere coincidence as Hon. Osafo-Maafo indicated in one of his presentations in Brong Ahafo, that Atta Mills would be panic stricken if he hears that the Honourable has been elected as the flag bearer of the NPP on Dec 22nd 2008 at the national congress. Osafo-Maafo stressed and I quote “I am the only person who can look Mills in the eyes and tell him, look Fiifi; you were the chairman of the Economic Council during your time as a Vice-President. You brought inflation to 41 percent whilst leaving office but as I took over from you as Finance Minister, I brought inflation down to 11.8 percent.” The Honourable added that Mills cannot deny the fact that while he (Osafo-Maafo) left $1,425.6 billion at the time he was leaving the Finance Ministry, the NDC government under which Mills served as Vice-President (Chairman of the Economic Management Team), left a meager foreign exchange reserve of only $233 million.

The question that arises from such a brilliantly relayed statement is very pervasive of the fact that Ghana’s current economic stature in the area of stability of the economy, wealth creation, expansion of our foreign reserves, cancellation and payments of our debt, the deployment of policy implementation blocks that led to prudent fiscal responsibilities and monetary policies etc reaffirms Ghana’s bright future if such a visionary leader is given the mandate.

Readers, it is very remarkable to realize that Osafo-Maafo is the brain behind Ghana’s current economic resilience. Will Prof. Mills even be able to gather confidence to debate Osafo-Maafo as he finally becomes the flag bearer of the NPP? It would be extremely difficult for him. Undoubtedly, we are not indulging in personal attacks over here. However, these are legitimate questions that would have to be answered by Prof. Mills

Ghanaians and the floating voters are looking for a visionary leader who will consolidate the remarkable performance of the current government and move quickly to facilitate high level of capital investment with competition which will subsequently lead to a positive trickle down effect and the multiplier effect which Ghana needs so urgently. Ghana needs the next leader who will think outside the box in line with the demands of the twenty first century.

CONCLUSION

The NPP and Ghana as a whole need a leader who has a visionary acumen, gentle but resolute. A leader who has strong solid records that is monumental not only in his field of specialty but at the peripheries of his specialty. Hon.Osafo-Maafo is the man whose nomination will send shockwaves through the spine and bone of the NDC stalwarts.

The writer is a Medical Insurance Specialist (UAT/Clinical Operations), Bed.POPLE, Currently pursuing Masters of Science in Accountancy (MSA), Former SRC President (University of Cape Coast)

E-mail:nanpoku_2007@yahoo.com