Vote Wisely

A lot of excitement is being brought into the Sunday, December 7 national elections.  Last week saw the presidential candidates racing up and down the country with more promises of heaven on earth.

Interesting headlines, curious pronouncements and discussions have taken centre stage. 

Meanwhile, there is little business commercials on radio and television; very uncharacteristic of the season we are in.  Our airspace have been taken over by party political broadcasts, danceable political lyrics, political 'concerts', and anything that will catch the eyes and ears of the electorate.

Two sets of business lines must have by now reaped abundantly, pressed down, shaken and running over with profits from the political parties.  Advertising agencies and the electronic media must have overachieved their set targets for 2008.  Hefty bonuses for some employees, I guess.

I cannot say the same for those manufacturing companies who also depend on advertising to sell their new and not-so-new products, particularly with the Christmas season almost here.  The prime times on air are no longer their monopoly. 

The prominent outdoor spaces have already been taken away and may not become available till after Christmas and depending on how quickly the losers come to terms with their loss and, therefore, dismantle billboards.  

The national polls have carved a clear picture in my mind these last few days.  The picture of the power that I hold as a voter gets clearly defined with each day. I really feel important as an individual, as I get ready to take part in a decision that will give my country a leader for the next four years.

Come to think of it, what type of a leader would Ghanaians be selecting on Sunday?  I pondered over the question and got convinced that we would be selecting a leader who in every sense will give a clear meaning to my mind's definition of each letter in the word - PRESIDENT. 

 
I and my household will certainly be selecting a Positive, Respected, Effective, Solid, Innovative, Dedicated, Enterprising, Neutral, and Tenacious personality who will bring another meaning to the job of the presidency.

Positive
We are looking for and will vote for a leader whose messages have consistently been positive and is going to give Ghanaians real hope for a prosperous future.  We cannot afford to be pessimistic, 51 years on.  We cannot change our future for the better if we remain negative and cast doubts on every twist and turn.  Yes, we can, with a positive leadership and a positive mindset full of optimism.

Respectful
Our respect as a people will be clearly stamped both within and outside this country, based on a respectable leadership who will instil credibility and trust.  We will be selecting that fine gentleman who commands respect as the Head of State of a respected nation.

Effective
At the polls on Sunday, before we cast our votes, we would have had the opportunity to finally assess and decide on that effective individual who has shown commitment to delivering the results that will transform our lives as well as our cities and towns.

Solid
My vote will be in the direction of a potential leader who, in the past few months, has not minced his words as far as his vision for Ghana is concerned.  My selection will be for the leader whose ideals over the last months, weeks and days have convinced me unequivocally that he has an unshakeable belief in this nation.  He is the one for whom I will cast the one vote which will add up to arrive at the winning slot of 50 plus one.

Innovative
Innovation is the trump card of many a successful company, individuals or businesses.  Our next President must have by now exhibited the tendency to infuse loads of ingenuity and award-winning ideas. 

I will certainly vote for the leader who has so far convinced me that he is able to think outside the box and move Ghana on as a can-do nation with a leader who has refreshing ideas to move us on.  The man who has demonstrated a passion to be creative with our future and put Ghana ahead of its peers quickly and faster is the man to vote for.  Business cannot continue as usual.

Dedicated
A leader who is not dedicated to his people and is not ready to carry the people with him will not be the one we should vote for on Sunday.  We are going to select a Moses who got God's command and is ready to lead the people of Israel to the promised land. 

Our vote will be going to the one who has touched souls, minds and hearts and demonstrated that Ghana and nothing but Ghana is his number one passion.  He is the man who has shown dedication to freedom and justice and a dedication to serve the people of Ghana.  He is the man who has so far convinced the electorate that he cherishes fearless honesty and is ready to put that to test for the sake of Ghana.

Enterprising
The one person who is going to take up the mantle of leadership from January 2009 is definitely the one who has so far shown Ghanaians that he has boldness to undertake a radical change in our country from day one and position us on an accelerated path to success and prosperity.

 
Our next President should have by now demonstrated to the electorate that he has the entrepreneurial spirit to take calculated risks that would strongly build a robust Ghana

 
Incorporated to stand the test of any world economic and social uncertainties. 

I will certainly vote for the proven President-in-waiting who will head a successful Ghana Incorporated strong enough to consistently, in the next four years, pay handsome dividends to us the shareholders.

Neutral
Ghana is one nation with one people and one destiny; at least, that is the public education given us.  We are going to the polls to select the one man who has so far convinced us that he will continue to unite Ghanaians.  This leader must have proven by now that he is not going to tolerate divisiveness, but rather build a strong and united people with one common aspiration. 

In the last few months, all our presidential candidates have criss-crossed the length and breadth of Ghana, listening to the pleas of the people.  They have sought the support of everyone and will represent not only one constituency, but indeed all the 230 constituencies in the country and all the 22 million or so population. 

We go under the banner of one Ghana and so we expect our leader to be a neutral man, whose propaganda has been to serve one united people, irrespective of affiliations.  Our leader must be the one who has demonstrated these last few months, that even though he is coming out of a political party, a tribe, a religion and a family, from January 7, 2009, he would be endorsed not as his party's President, but the President of the Republic of Ghana.  We will be ready to vote for the man who has championed unity, peace and neutrality.

Tenacious
Ghana is richly endowed, we know.  We know also by now what has caused our downfall as a nation.  That is why at this point in time, we are looking for and will select the man who has a tenacity of purpose.  We have had the opportunity to adequately assess the fine gentlemen who will be seeking our mandate to lead the nation. 

Come Monday, December 8, we would have taken a decision on which any of the candidates has proved persistent and is ready to fight all the obstacles that will stand in his way and build a Ghana that we can be proud of.  Both his foreign and internal policies are policies we believe will stand the test of time.  The President that we will be voting for must have by now demonstrated that he will be resolute and preside over systems and processes that work and will work to help Ghana win both at home and abroad, despite all challenges.

We have travelled far as a people.  Sunday is one best opportunity in our lifetime to once again decide peacefully who we believe has Ghana's well-being uppermost in his heart.  We have heard, seen and digested a lot to help us exercise our franchise, endorsing with our powerful fingers who has so far convinced us that we can go to sleep and wake up after four years with Ghana's best foot out.  Countrymen and women, let us vote peacefully and more importantly, vote wisely on Sunday.

 
 By Vicky Wireko