As Buhari is to Nigerians, So Will Nana Akufo Addo be to Ghanaians

The Nigerian President, His Excellency Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, a septuagenarian, has been chalking up successes by leaps and bounds in less than no time that he has been elected into office. He became the elected President of Nigeria on 29 May 2015 but his achievements so far defy human understanding. Many are those watching with their mouths agape in wonder at his successful achievements within such a short period of time that he ascended to the Nigerian presidency.

Is he not an old man of more than seventy years? Was he not elected President at the age of 72 years? Has he not been performing his presidential duties dynamically and with truthful dedication to the admiration of not only Nigerians but also, the worldwide political community interested in seeing men of demonstrable integrity at the helm of African politics?

Is old age a barrier to politics as otherwise suggested by then Ghanaian presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama against people voting for his rival Nana Akufo Addo? During his electioneering campaign in 2012, John Dramani Mahama kept telling his audience whenever he mounted the political podium that Nana Akufo Addo was too old to be voted to lead Ghana.

"I am a youth, born after the attainment of Ghana's independence, so please vote for me", he might say. He would also whip up tribal sentiments whenever he was campaigning in the northern parts of Ghana, asking the northerners to vote for him because he is of same tribal extraction as them.

Whether he was genuinely voted for or the election was rigged in his favour, he became, and he is still, the President of Ghana. What do Ghanaians see of this supposed youth and Northerner? All they see is a gentleman who is extremely corrupt, incompetent, clueless and dishonest messing up the economy of Ghana. He is also masterminding and spearheading nepotistic tribal tendencies in the country, absurdly favouring those of his tribal extraction to the doom of the country.

For his lack of foresight, this supposed youth has obviously mismanaged Ghana. President Buhari is old, but for his honesty and willingness to secure the collective welfare of Nigerians, he is succeeding. He does not accept offers from anyone for the fear of such gifts having the potential to influence him to become corrupt. He has publicly declared his assets. He is not appointing only people of his tribal extraction to higher positions but competent, honest, dynamic and dedicated Nigerians from across the entire tribes.

HONESTY is the pivot on which the visionary old man President Buhari's success revolves but not on age alone. Is old age not an indication of wisdom and grey hair a repository of wisdom? It could be.

There are marked similarities between President Buhari and the NPP flag-bearer Nana Akufo Addo. They are both over 70 years. They are both honest individuals. They are visionary. They both aspire to better the living standards of the entire citizens of their countries. They both have credible policies in place, the implementation of which will surely raise the standards of living for their people as well as raise the reputation of their countries at the international level. Nana Akufo Addo at any least opportunity declares that politics is not an arena for making money, therefore, anyone seeking to acquire immense wealth at the blink of the eye should rather go into the private sector but not to seek a place in his future government. Has Buhari not been sacking the corrupt people in charge of public services only to replace them with perceived honest ones who share the same dream as he?

On the other hand, there is an ocean of differences between these two individuals on one hand and President Mahama on the other. President Mahama is corrupt; no-one can deny that fact. He is dishonest. He is not visionary. He has not been able to declare his assets until today. He plays the tribal card, appoints only people of his tribal extraction to the highest positions in almost all the public sector services regardless of whether or not they are competent enough to do the job. He aspires to acquire immense material wealth at the expense of the ordinary citizens. He is young, a youth so to speak.

Anyway, Ghanaians will be the better judges themselves. John Mahama has failed them. He came to power trumpeting how his youthful age would help him perform wonders for Ghanaians. Yes, do not get him wrong. His youthful age has helped him plunder the coffers of Ghana to the point of even not getting money to pay some public sector workers in Ghana. Being young, he is energetic enough to embezzle public funds with both hands more than the two old people could.

Time is against me. However with the little so far said, Ghanaians must know who they should vote for next time round. I know Ghanaians did not vote for then presidential-candidate John Mahama massively in 2012 as the NDC would have us believe, but finally exposed by the live telecast of the Supreme Court trial of Election 2012 petition.

President Mahama is not credible enough to continue to rule Ghana. He has brought poverty on Ghanaians and Ghana on to her knees. Subsequently, I shall appeal to all discerning and concerned Ghanaians to join me to oblige the Chair of Ghana Electoral Commission, Ms Charlotte Osei, to replace the bloated voters register in place today, the first step in the right direction to ensuring Ghanaians elect a more credible leader in 2016.

I dedicate this publication to all discerning Ghanaians worldwide, especially Kofi Basoah of Asante Juaben, originally from Beposo.

Rockson Adofo