Why NDC lost – It Seems Corruption Does Not Count

I wonder if corruption is seen as a crime in Ghana anymore. The fact of the matter is, that if we were to take corruption seriously in Ghana probably more than half of the adult population would have to go to prison for either taking or offering bribes. So we let it be. Not only that, we actually expect our public officials to accumulate as much wealth as they can while “it is their turn” and pray fervently that we would be the next in line for the booty.

Maybe we need to stop using the word corruption – it has lost its real meaning in the Ghanaian experience. Let’s stop using expressions like financial malfeasance and misappropriation of funds. Let’s avoid the words bribery, extortion, fraud and unscrupulousness- they make crime sound like normal administrative practices in Ghana; and call them what they really are – thievery, awi, fiafito, jolo ee jolo. Maybe then, we would all sit up and take notice.

Allotey Jacobs, the central regional NDC chairman, is a man I’ve grown to like listening to on Adom TV and on various other radio stations for his sense of humour and grasp of the Fante language. He also appears to talk lots of sense most times. But when on one occasion he playfully tapped the back of Sam Payne, the Ashanti Regional NPP secretary on Adom TV and said “why are they not giving you any appointment? If you are not careful they will chop everything behind you”, I knew my country was in trouble.

In effect, the reason why people go into politics and lobby for posts is not so they can be of service to their country. It is only so they can also, in the words of Allotey Jacobs, chop! That is taken for granted. And interestingly, the more corrupt one is, the more money one has to induce equally corrupt and corruptible party functionaries to keep one in positions of responsibility and power in the party, in a never-ending revolving cycle, leading our poor country to its doom. And that is why, there may soon be no good people in politics at all – they might simply, not be corrupt enough.

In the wake of the release of Kwesi Botchway’s report on the NDC electoral defeat, I have heard several reasons from various quarters as to why the NDC lost. Some have blamed the then communication minister, Mr Omane Boamah, for not releasing information needed for campaigning. Really? Seriously? Others have put the blame on Lordina Mahama who was said to have usurped the powers of the then vice president Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur. Some have blamed John Mahama – he was too truthful, they say. Others have blamed Kofi Adams.

People have blamed NDC splinter groups and celebrity campaign teams who were overly rewarded financially at the expense of people at the grassroots, and actually did no work. Many have blamed ex-president John Rawlings – he deliberately sabotaged NDC with his public criticisms of the party and his new found admiration of President Nana Akuffo Addo.

It’s all well and good. People have the right to voice their opinions and perceptions. What nobody is talking about, however, is the rather serious issue of corruption! And you know why? Nobody cares about corruption anymore. It’s become a noble venture so long as you remain generous to others as you chop. Even the NPP, now they are in power, have toned down their hitherto vociferous utterances against corruption…it’s their turn to chop!

How on earth could we forget, that we had a president who was prepared to sacrifice his integrity and accept a Ford Exploration from a Burkinabe contractor seeking contracts in Ghana. If everybody in Ghana forgets, I will not, because I believe it is an impeachable offence. How on earth could we forget GYEEDA, SADA, guinea fowls flying to Burkina Faso, Woyome, the bus branding saga and the rot at COCOBOD amongst others?

Omane Boamah did not give us information? … Indeed!!