The People Have Spoken

Long live Mother Ghana, Long live our young democracy.

On this historic day, the people deserve high marks for the voter turn-outs and high marks because they have proved that they will not be taken for granted. Indeed "Ghana has spoken". It is not about NDC, NPP, CPP or every tom, dick and sarah party. It is the people who won. They wanted their voices to be heard through the ballot box. They wanted to send a message to the candidates that if they didn't put their constituencies at heart or performed to their satisfaction, they will say, "get stepping" through the ballot box.

The people have spoken because they voted for those they trust, those they feel can achieve their goals and objectives for their constituencies and those they feel are indeed "representing". It is also a warning signal to those who won that if they fail to live up to people's expectations, the same fate would happen to them come 2008.

On this occasion, the people's voices have been heard and they have chosen their leader, President John Agyekum Kufuor. They have demonstrated through the ballot box that he deserves a second chance. They have demonstrated that he has an unfinished business and so he has to complete it. If the majority of the people felt he was not performing to their satisfaction, they would have "kicked him to the curb". Many lessons have to be learned and there was a warning-signal for the winner and incumbent president from this election, because some of his ministers lost some great seats. The next step is for his party to strategically work on those weaknesses and take it to another level. Whether the country is being governed good or bad, the people would feel it and they would decide what to do next through the ballot box.

If the people were given promises, then those promises has to be fulfilled because at the end of the next four years, they will remind the president whether he fulfilled his promises or not through the ballot box. Time and time, promises are made to the people by their MPs but they see " zilch, nara, zip, nil". They say "You have to put your money where your mouth is; continue investing in the communities you promised". They are watching.

The people showed their distrust concerning the number of ministers and MPs whether NPP or NDC who failed to win their constituencies; Professor Ameyaw Ekumfi of the Techiman North, Dr. Owusu Afriyie, Minister of Health, Kwesi Owusu Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, Elizabeth Ohene, Thomas Broni, Andrews Awuni, Mr Emmanuel K.K. Teye (NPP) Cletus Avokar (NDC), Seidu Adamu (NDC) Ama Benyiwaa Doe (NDC) Hawa Yakubu (NPP), Mr Mike Hammah (NDC), Mr Victor Gbeho (Independent), Reginald Nibi Ayi-Bonte (NPP), Mr Rashid Bawa (NPP), Andrews Awuni Aberibire and others.

The disheartening thing though that should not be overlooked is the voting patterns; there is a perception that if you are from the Ashanti, you are NPP and if you are from the Northern, Upper East and Volta, you are NDC. The results of this election demonstrated that and that is very dangerous. We see plainly tribalism and division existing but Ghana is too rich and above that. Its' young democracy has been praised that it warrants emulation.

The people have spoken and it is time the losers cut their losses and support the winner. Prof. Mills, Dr. Mahama and Aggudey deserve praises for their hardwork and sleepness nights of campaign. That is politics. The time now is not about NPP, NDC, PNC and CPP. The time is Ghana's time. Time to find ways to promote peace, build good educational and transportational systems, upgrading energy, creating jobs, creating wealth, promoting self employment, promoting our culture to the rest of the world, promoting tourism, improving security and protecting our country from sabotage. Give back to our villages, build streets, schools, libraries, public lavatories (modern), improving education on hygiene (keep washing our hands with soap constantly).

The people have spoken, let us bury the hatchet, give credit where credit is due, let us focus on our country and help make the rest of the world proud of us. The president mentioned earlier in his campaign that if he has wronged anyone during his presidency, he should be forgiven. If anyone has been wronged in this election by any party, let us give peace a room to live. United we stand and divided we will fall and hurt so badly . "You better ask the Ivorians, Liberians, Sierra Leonians and the Bosnians". Some wish they were like us so let us be proud of our country.

We do not need to be in the news and make international news providers money, "big bucks' and we become a laughing stock. Ghanaians in the diaspora learned that lesson many years ago when we were shown Africa on the television; as living on trees and living naked. This time Africa is a business continent and Ghana is the gateway of African business. The time has come to encourage tourism. More money should be spent on tourism, just like Jamaica. We hear their jingle; "Come to Jamaica and feel alright". We can equate Jamaica and I don't see why not. We have gold, cocoa, Sam Jonah and Kofi Annan to be our success stories.

The people have spoken and deserve praises for the peace and harmony that existed throughout the election and they welcome their president with open arms for the next four years.

It is time for Peace, Love and Soul.