Mahama's victory will be senseless if.....

John

Dramani Mahama's victory will be senseless if.....

Whilst Ghanaians continue to

celebrate a successful and peaceful election, the NDC government must be

humbled by the reality that it owes its electoral victory to the sacrifices of

ordinary, homeless, hungry, and jobless Ghanaians who stood long hours in the

burning sunshine to cast their vote.

It is significant to note that

ordinary poor Ghanaians stood with the NDC in its crucial moment of depression,

especial when the party and government had its back against the wall, following

the Woyome scandal, Konadu's resignation and the formation of her NDP, death of

JEAM, no campaign/support from Former President Jerry John Rawlings, and having

to use only three months to campaign for re-election.

As the saying goes, every good turn

deserves the other. The least the NDC government can do is to also keep faith

with our poor folks by:

1. Giving them a government of

quality leadership, made of the best experienced professionals, with enormous

understanding of the reality of the Ghanaian economic, social, health and

educational crises and have solutions and timelines to address same.

It will be suicidal for the

government to reward party loyalists who lack the experience and competence

with political appointments, only to end up underperforming. This will not only

affect our chances in the next election, it will also be seen as unethical and

insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.

2. Taking practical steps to

implement the fantastic ideas in the NDC manifesto such as:

• making basic education completely

free within the first four years of the government;

• building 10 new teacher training

colleges;

• a university in the Eastern

region;

• 200 new senior high schools;

• making sure that SHS education is

free by 2016.

The others include:

• creating jobs through GHc10

million Youth Jobs and Enterprise Fund;

• increase SADA support of small

holder farmers from 16,000 farmers to 40, 000 in four years;

• the Western Corridor Gas

Infrastructure,

• graduate Business support schemes;

• rehabilitation of the abandoned

Kumasi jute factory, Aboso Glass factory, implementation of plans for an

integrated Iron and steel industry at Oppong Manso; and

• achieving a full middle income

economy with positive micro economic indicators such as a single digit

inflation, strong currency and over 8% annual GDP growth.

It is unacceptable to measure the

maturity of Ghana's democracy, only by how peaceful the ordinary people cast

their votes and accept the outcome. A mature democracy must also be measured by

the commitment of political leaders to implement the flurry of ideas that

procured their electoral victory.

I supported JDM to become President

not only because I am a member of the NDC. However, it is my considered opinion

that out of all the candidates who put themselves up for this election, JDM had

the kind of leadership qualification, experience, personality traits,

understanding of the Ghanaian situation and the practical solutions to move the

country forward.

I supported him because I have no

reason to doubt his claims of caring for Ghana's poor and determination to

build a country and an economy where opportunities exist for all to succeed.

I voted for JDM because I believe he

is the only person at this moment who can unite a beautiful country which

unfortunately appears to be sharply divided along partisan lines.

These are the qualities I voted for

! And I know I speak for thousands of poor Ghanaians who equally voted for the

NDC.

The wild celebrations of the

NDC' victory by ordinary Ghanaians and hardworking NDC cadres is understandable

. They have earned it. But the people of Ghana can only have true

celebration and bliss if their vote for JDM translates into economic

prosperity and development of our country.

If voting one-touch for JDM

and the government of the NDC translate into economic salvation for our poor

people, I have no doubt in my mind that the good people of Ghana will once

again queue for several hours to renew the NDC' mandate in 2016 without any

hesitation.

I wish the President God’s wisdom,

good health and strength to succeed.

God bless us all.

Akyena Brantuo Benjamin

benakyena@yahoo.com