Why I voted fro Atta Mill & NDC

Some few days prior to the historic December 7th election, I was one of the undecided voters who hadn't yet made up their minds as to which of the presidential candidates to vote for. I therefore resorted to listening and analysing issues objectively from the two main parties as I narrowed my choice to them since it was like a two hot race between the two. I didn't also want to be one of those who just vote on the bases that "I like this party". I wanted to follow my conscience and vote objectively so that in the end, if the party I voted for became victorious, I will sit down and thank God for also adding my single vote to making that history and also exercising my democratic right "effectively" for the good of mother Ghana.

We the laymen in the field of Economics were made to believe that since the ruling NPP took over, the GDP of this country has been quadrupled to the tune of about $16bn (Sixteen Billion U.S. Dollars). Also, that the economy has grown to about 300% (three hundred per cent) in the last 8yrs or so. I was therefore very surprised when Dr. Annaman of not any institution but our IEA (Institute of Economic Affairs), with all the respect and reputation came out just some few days to the election to rebute that claim spear-headed by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP vice presidential candidate and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana. I remember Dr. Tony Aidoo and the NDC also refuted this claim and now that it came from a neutral body and since also, the ordinary Ghanaian is not feeling the impact of this "macro-economic growth" as claimed by the NPP I decided to believe what the NDC was saying .

Crude oil prices have in the world market fallen to a record four-year low to around $49 (forty-nine US dollars) per barrel this month. To be a caring and people-centred government, I expected the ruling NPP (the party I voted for in 2004) to have reduced the oil prices substantially to lessen the burden especially on we the ordinary people since a significant change in oil prices affects the prices of almost everything in the country. Yet, Prof Mills promised that if he was elected, the prices would be reviewed to reflect what's currently happening on the World Market. So, I opted for him on this one too.

On the last campaign rallies of the two major parties two days to the election held in Accra and Tema respectively, I decided to listen to their messages effectively to again, decide between the two. The main messages that caught my attention were the ones said by His Exellency the out-going president, J.A. Kuffour and that of the ex-President, Jerry Rawlings. Whilst the former said, Nana Akuffo-Addo was ordained to rule Ghana, the latter said Ghanaians should consider 7th December as a liberation day. The question I asked myself was "who ordained whom to rule Ghana and what liberation"? I tried to analyse the two statements from the two "giants" of Ghana politics to make an objective conclusion. I realised that what goes round that Nana Akuffo-Addo feels it's his time to be the president of this country has really been confirmed by the president. Are we then practicing Democracy or Meritocracy in Ghana and why should some people feel it's their turn to rule us? That statement made by the out-going president, to me, was an "offside one". I also felt the ex-president thinks the unfair trial of Tsatsu Tsikata, the lack of political will to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of the recent Gushiegu murder of innocent people and destruction of their properties as well as many crimes commited by members of the ruling party culminated in him declaring Dec 7th as a liberation day in case the NDC win.

I felt also that Akuffo-Addo was so desperate therby making a lot of "WILD" promises which to me, cannot be fulfilled within four years. Notable among them were "Turning Ghana into a First Class Country", "Making Second Cycle Education Free" and "Putting up a University in all the Regional Capitals". It however looked like Prof Mills was moderate in his promises and never look so desperate like Akuffo-Addo. So, I went for the prof on this again.

Most of the campaign of the NPP also dealt so much on ex-pres Jerry Rawlings; the same tricks were used in 2000 and 2004 which is not working now. It therefore looked like the contest was between Jerry Rawlings and Akuffo-Addo which is not supposed to be so. They should've tried to bring out the weaknesses of the prof rather than endulging so much effort on Rawlings.

Further more, almost a week to the election, the Foreign Minister issued a statement saying all borders leading to the country will not be closed due to the impending election. However, without any prior notice to the general public, the country's eastern border with our neighbouring Togo was closed but the other two borders to the north and west were remained opened. The directive was issued by the National security coordinator; why only the eastern border which is even the busiest among the three main borders? Many traders and would-be voters who pile that route were totally denied of their democratic right. My friend who buys goods from Lome to Tarkwa had left on Thursday and wanted to return on Saturday to cast his vote but was absolutely denied entry into his own country to vote through no fault of his. He could have postponed it to after the election but because the Minister gave that statement, he relied on it and embarked on the trip only to be denied entrying back. That deception alone "infuriated" me and I decided that NO, it's really true that these people are almost always deceiving and lying to us.

Lastly, (I stand to be corrected) I felt Akuffo-Addo should've come out to clear the air on the cocaine issue but he decided to remain silent. I also feel the law professor is morally sound and sincere to rule Ghana than Akuffo-Addo.

I therefore hope and pray that our politicians will learn to respect us and wouldn't be lying to or deceiving us all the time because "YOU CAN LIE TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME BUT YOU CAN'T LIE TO ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME".

GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA!

From: Marcus Chudson