Indeed, 2014 has begun…

And on partisan politics the NPP way

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

My good friends, we are in 2014—and what immediately dominates the news scene is the slew of utterances from the NPP quarters. For all that these utterances suggest, I think that they give me an indication of what lies ahead. For sure, the anti-Mahama politics won’t abate. But what we’ve begun hearing from the NPP quarters portends a lot to prepare for.

Former President Kufuor says he won’t support any candidate who wins any position by “clever” means (or a sleight-of-hand tactics—if I should be allowed to extend meanings)?

Effah Dartey also claims that 2014 is “crucial” for the NPP, whatever that premonition means.

To top it all, here is the big picture:

1. “Ghanaians want NPP back in power— Alan Kyeremanten”:

Former NPP Presidential Aspirant, Alan Kyeremanten, says Ghanaians are yearning for the return of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in power.

“… I believe that the people of Ghana are waiting to put the Government back into power in 2016 to provide the same kind of progressive, constructive and forward-looking leadership that we did during the eight years that we were in power…under the NPP administration,” Mr. Kyeremanten told XYZ News Wednesday.

2. “2014 will be hopeless year under Mahama—Sir John”:

The General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, is predicting massive socio-economic hardships in 2014.

He said the repercussions of government’s fiscal indiscipline will be gravely felt by Ghanaians this year.

Owusu Afriyie who was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday, stated unequivocally that “2014 will be a hopeless year under President John Mahama”.

MY COMMENTS

Obviously, Kyerematen is wetting his feet, testing the waters and pulses of the NPP followers (not necessarily Ghanaians because his fate as a flagbearer hangs in the balance and will be determined by the NPP’s delegates at the Marc congress). He can’t claim to be speaking for GHANAIANS because he has no idea what Ghanaians think of him.

As to his claims regarding “the same kind of progressive, constructive and forward-looking leadership that we did during the eight years that we were in power…under the NPP administration”, I think that the successive defeat of the NPP at the end of Kufuor’s term in office reduces it all to absurdity.

Anybody who knows how this Gbeshie-possessed Chief Comedian of the NPP’s “Concert Party” does politics shouldn’t be surprised that he would go this way. He has to sustain this “copious crap” to appeal to the party’s followers and delegates at the March congress. In any case, indications are strong that his position is slipping out of his hands, and all that noise from him can be interpreted as a last-ditch effort to remain in contention. Such characters can’t help us build Ghana.

All this is happening against the background of President Mahama’s New Year eve’s message to Ghanaians to join his government build the country.

And in response, some of us can’t fail to point it out to these NPP people that even though the Mahama-led administration is facing stiff challenges, there is no guarantee that Ghanaians see the NPP as an alternative. If these NPP people will be conscientious and dispassionate enough to do some soul-searching, they should see the reality, which will scare them stiff. Winning political power in Ghana demands more than their kind of “book politics” and back-stabbing.

A friend of mine aptly put it in response to an opinion that I raised on Facebook:

“The NPP people keep praying for the doom for our nation, Ghana, and still want Ghanaians to bring them back to power? If truly the NPP is the solution to the problem of Ghana, I believe without any reservation that they can still make that happen even when in opposition. It doesn't take only the throne at the Castle to solve the nation's problems for a nation is built by her people.

The ‘make-them-panic-and-vote-for-us syndrome’ as well as ‘we-must-pander-to-the-gallery-of-deceit-to-regain-power syndrome’ within the NPP's rank and file is very very dangerous to the development of our dear nation, Ghana. It has been my prayer always for Ghana to get another vibrant opposition some few years to come so we can forever push the NPP into the ditch for they have no space in the modern politics and in the affairs of mother Ghana.”

Like it or hate it, this observation speaks volumes.

Indeed, we expect the political scene to remain unchanged from what it was in 2013; but the outcome of the NPP’s March congress will go a long way to influence matters. Till then, the madcap politics from the “book politicians” is what we will be bored with.

I shall return…

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