A Colony Of Tit For Tat

.

It is an undeniable fact that Ghana is deeply immersed in massive corruption, greed, selfishness, tribalism, ethnocentrism, nepotism and survival of the fittest mentality. Its gain in notoriety in drug trafficking in the international community is assuming alarming proportions. The elites of the nation do not bother at all about these cankers since their businesses flourish in the presence of these malfeasances. To consider fighting these evil practices will therefore be the last thing in their scale of preference. The political elites have managed to suppress the social and legal elites of this country completely to their advantage.

Ghana’s political power orientation is now tilted, to a very extent, towards the NDC and NPP. To rely on these political movements to get rid of these blights is tantamount to empowering one’s enemy. These two parties are so antagonistic that sabotaging and slighting each other at all times is a feast for the eyes for them. What is more disgusting is the tit for tat attitude of these opponents. About a fortnight ago, former President J.A Kufour complained of being snubbed by the President of the Republic, H.E J.D Mahama for not inviting him during the commissioning of the first phase of the Bui Dam Project by the President. Mr. J.A Kufour recounted how his administration toiled to get the project started. He said they had to go and negotiate seriously with the Chinese government before they were granted a loan to start the then abandoned project initiated by the first president of the Republic, Dr. K. Nkrumah. He however said he was happy that at long last the project has seen the light of the day. Instead of accepting the mistake made, some members of the ruling NDC in a swift rebuttal, said it served him (Kufour) right for his refusal to also invite former President J.J Rawlings to commission projects that the later started. So, how long will this tit for tat continue to play? Must we pay evil with evil as Ghanaians?

The so-called saying that in politics in politics, no mistakes, no retreat and no retract has consumed the honesty of Ghanaian politicians. All the political parties especially the NDC and NPP have considered themselves infallible and are therefore not ready to accept their mistakes let alone rendering any apology for making mistakes. Ghana’s populace is approximately divided into two equal parts along the lines of these two major political parties and these parties would do Ghanaians a lot of good if they resolve to live in harmony devoid of vindictiveness and acrimony. It is a fact that as people of diverse backgrounds, getting all under one umbrella of same political ideology would be very difficult if not impossible. This is reason for the existence of many political parties with different ideologies. We must not allow these differences in ideology to breed any form of enmity, vindictiveness, animosity and acrimony amongst us. We may have the best of brilliant ideologies but without harmony, goodwill and peaceful co-existence, realizing these ideologies would be a mirage.

Nantomah Mustapha staaph@yahoo.com

0204456564