Playing the NDC blame game after election loss: Headaches, bellyaches and heartaches

By Maxwell Okamafo Addo

Let’s stop apportioning the blame game and fix the NDC by applying the corrective measures

I had resisted the temptation of writing for several reasons if not many, reasons. But posterity would judge me if I don’t respond to some NDC members and those spurious polls by the so called academic magicians in Ghana after the NDC has lost .Especially on Former Vice President Kwesi Amissah –Arthur.

Rather than initiate practical and pragmatic policies to drive their change agenda in the NDC, some people has resorted to blaming the past Vice President former President Kwesi Amissah –Arthur as the reason for their headaches, bellyaches and heartaches loss to President Nana Addo.

As a people, we are adept at passing the buck and blaming others for our failures. We hardly own up to our misdeeds or take responsibility for our actions and inactions. We see the faults always in our stars and never in ourselves. “He,” “she,” “they” or “them” caused it and never “I,” “me,” “we” or “us” that caused it. When it is convenient, we even blame God, the ancestors, the elemental beings and any other thing but ourselves.

One factor that has led to the collapse of many societies throughout history is internal decay brought about by inept and visionless leadership. The pages of history are littered with examples of societies whose final descent into perdition was preceded by unprecedented internal rot.

This type of rot is usually sustained by a corps of lackadaisical and moronic people that made a vocation of blaming their predecessors for the rot of society without as much seeing in their own lethargy, ineptitude and lack of foresight as significant contributory factors for that collapse. This is the product of the nemesis called “blame game” syndrome in leadership.

Blame game syndrome is as old as the history of creation. It has always been the stock-in-trade for those who fail. Those who fail in their assignments must always find an escape goat for their failures.

Such blame game syndrome has always been the hallmark of inept leaders. Lacking in vision and the initiative to elevate their thinking to glorious levels, and also of what should be done to transform society; a typical scenario of a bad workman quarrelling with his tools, such leaders invariably lead their societies into destruction.

I have very often spoken about the guilt of collective amnesia as symptomatic of leadership in Ghana . We have formed the nauseating habit of passing the buck and blaming others for our failures. Very seldomly do we own up to our mistakes and or take responsibility for our actions and inactions. We blame the elements for our woes; it is always he/she, they/them that caused our problems; and it is never us or we. I have heard many even blame God.

These researchers with glorification of illusional popularity in Ghana like Choreography of dancers dancing to nowhere.

I started this piece with a different title in mind but changed because i believe that despite the distractions, in the face of severe provocation John Mahama and Amissah –Arthur allowed political maturity to prevail and has a genuine record of accomplishments.

I have always said when it comes to choosing a great mate, whether in politics or business, the essentials extend well beyond charisma, connections and political leverage. The fundamental elements are trust, loyalty and complementary skills and qualities.

The NDC lost the reality of what their opponent was doing. They went for a target and they got their target, which was too narrow. The closing picture of the campaign was an image of Mahama sharing a stage with two presidents. The message was about continuity, not change.

My hope is that the Akufo-Addo victory will be a lesson to progressives that the NDC fought NPP tooth and nail, for social, economic and infrastructural progress that the NPP tried to obstruct in every way. Progressives took the NDC's victories for granted and failed to live up to their end of the bargain at the polls.

Those pointing accusing fingers at Amissah-Arthur and other progressives shouldn't look back at December 7, 2017, and ask how did conservatives deliver the presidency to the worst person the NPP had to offer.

The protesters should look back at least on the last year and ask themselves, how did we allow ourselves to get so comfortable that we failed to deliver the presidency to the best person that the NDC had to offer.

The intra-party insults, accusations and insults are not helping anyone and the earlier those doing that together with their surrogates learn this lesson, the better it will be for them and the NDC as a progressive party.

Kwesi Amissah-Arthur brought on board. Competence and not Sentiments –And reminds everyone else of a national ethic of accountability.

Former Vice President proved himself as a patriot and nationalistic; but for better governance and the development of the country.Someone the people trusts "absolutely, completely.'' This he did by complimenting the efforts of President Mahama through good governance and development.

Society set certain standards by which people are measured, and it is the conviction of every Ghanaian that if the nation cannot bequeath to Ghanaians and our children the future leaders anything at all, It must at least bequeath to them as a people, a leader with a high sense of morality and uprightness and humility like what the former Vice President of Ghana did to compliment the efforts of former President Mahama.

Together with President Mahama we saw that Good leadership was imperative now more than ever if the country is to progress; to transform the economy, to create jobs for its teeming youth, establish a strong manufacturing base, process and export finished products; reduce poverty, inequality and unemployment; improve and establish quality health and education systems; improve our infrastructure – roads, water and electricity. Improving power supply and addressing the insecurity.

Sometimes i wonder if we have very serious academic researchers in the country as we seem to believe. Whenever i hear some lazy academics blaming the Former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, I laugh- especially those who don't know his pedigree.

I have read a report by some so called researcher saying, comments made by former President John Mahama ahead of the 2016 elections contributed to his awful performance in the polls, a research conducted by some political science lecturers at the University of Ghana has revealed.

The research also attributed the failure of the NDC to win the elections citing some of the reasons on the Door steps of the former Vice President who is also a pioneer member of the NDC.

It blamed the inability of the former vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur to counter the economic reviews of the government by the then running mate of the NPP, now vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Addressing the media on their findings, one of the researchers and lecturer, Alex Frimpong said NDC’s electoral misfortune

This I find funny especially if indeed we have researchers here or they are just Mushroom Researchers, since no serious researcher in this country will come into this conclusion. So I ask should Amissah -Arthur respond to any question Bawumia wakes up and ask? 'Answer 2000 questions', then Amissah Arthur follows him sheepishly and answers?

The so called researchers should first know that, one, Vice Presidential picks should always share the substantive President’s values and vision. This was superb.

Two, Vice President kwesi Amissah-Arthur proved himself as a humble leader and exhibited that his humility knew no bounds.

Three, what the people of Ghana were looking for was a humble selfless, truly confident intelligent, non-corrupt God-fearing Vice President who is working and focused. This, he stood for.

Four, his strong record on ethics and government integrity cannot be questioned in Ghana.Former President John Mahama and his former vice enjoyed a robust relationship. Kwesi Amissah Arthur has an impeccable, unimpeachable conscience – Something Ghanaians know of.

Five. His humility and meekness was very important .The greatest among his amiable qualities was his humbleness and meekness.

Six, this man is indeed and was a mentor of all who wish to attain greatness.

Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur in office proved to Ghanaians that politics can be played without rivalry and enmity. This he has proven by responding to critics of the government by educating them on national issues.

Seven, High economic and financial acumen .As an individual who held the post of deputy finance secretary/minister for ten years and being in charge of the central bank during one of the longest period of stability for our currency since independence.

Eight, Political level-heads who matter in this country knows his political experience.. He proved himself a worthy and loyal vice to Mahama.

Nine,Amissah-Arthur/ Mahama showed a pattern of trust and loyalty between themselves.

Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has a deep sense of appreciation of his works. But is not a noise maker and so believes in complimenting and not competing with any Ghanaian.

There is an adage in Akan which says; AKOKO ANTWIWAA BESA ABU NE PA DWE DWE SENARA A ENNYE AKROMA FE DA," to wit, “no matter how beautifully the hen will dance, it will never please the hawk”. Why? Because the hawk just doesn’t like the hen, and wants to eat it.