I like the sideshow to the World Cup in South Africa – the dramatic press
conferences; the controversy over whether or not to ban the Vuvuzela and the war of
words between officials. Did you hear how Diego Maradona ripped to shreds Michel
Platini and Pele? You may be missing the fun if you didn’t.
Maradona is reported to have said that Pele should "go back to the museum" and
claimed that Platini, the UEFA president, thinks he "is better than all the rest".
Reports indicate that it was Pele who slated Maradona and accused the Argentine
coach of taking the coaching job because he needed the money.
In Ghana, a Deputy Minister has adviced fans who had hopes of getting sponsorship to
see the rare event in South Africa but got stranded because of dithering by
government to “rent a place and pretend you went to South Africa.” In other words
they should lie to their kith and kin about travelling to South Africa and seeing
the world cup from the stands.
Nii Nortey Dua has a good track record as a broadcaster. He’s been around a long
time, highly capable broadcaster and understands the politics of broadcasting – the
last person you would expect to give an unguarded interview.
But he did - a typical example of the arrogance and chicanery of some of Mills’
ministers and aids, who are acting in a manner which pales in comparison to what we
saw under the previous government. The contempt by some of these geeks in government
towards voters is unbelievable. Nii’s comments are not only morally offensive, they
are damaging to the National Democratic Congress.
There’s deep distrust for politics and unfortunately so because of lies and
dishonesty in our politics and Nii Nortey’s comments are a reflection of the
thinking of your average politician. You see, politicians are weak and many of them
are without talent. There’s a striking similarity between some of the NDC
ministers/aids and their counterparts in the NPP. You remember Andrew Awuni? He
famously remarked during a Joy FM interview after the NPP lost power that members of
his party who were keeping unauthorized saloon cars were doing so because they were
too important to pick public transport. They all have no respect for the
electorates, whose generosity in votes makes it possible for them to be ministers
and aids.
The attitude of the Mills government and some of his appointees leaves me worried
about the fortunes of the National Democratic Congress at future elections. We are
seeing a continuation of Kufour’s dark irresponsible spending, even though I must
add Kufour with all his flaws and penchant for frills would not have spent
taxpayers’ money on sponsoring over one thousand fans to see the world cup at a time
we are squeezing Ghanaians with cuts in public sector spending and other austerity
measures.
The millions of people who voted the National Democratic Congress in order for Prof.
Mills to be president didn’t do so because they wanted to go to South Africa to see
the world cup. They did so because they wanted better lives – long lasting tangible
benefits. How can it be right to freeze funding on frontline services and spend over
a US million dollars on sponsoring soccer fans who were largely party faithful in a
lame attempt to assuage a disillusioned base?
Government’s strategy to reduce the deficit is being undermined by the kinds of
populist stunts they pull.
We complain the last government left us no money; we are told the NDC inherited a
fiscal deficit of 2. 6 billion Ghana Cedis; we complain of inheriting failure from
the last government and this is what he can do? Unemployment is too high in our
country. There are people desperately looking for work; there are thousands of
students, pensioners, orphans and sick people who need public sector support. – And
this is how we spite them? We talk about debt and deficit – how does sponsoring
people to South Africa reduce the deficit? They should have the decency of telling
GHANAIANS where they got the funds to send so called soccer fans to South Africa?
The people of Ghana must demand full disclosure.
RAS MUBARAK,
UNIVERSITY of OSLO NORWAY
(PG Int. Development Studies).
mmubarak79@yahoo.com
+233244478267
+4799881507
+447908147303
