Can we have some decency in the system please?

Do you remember what a Ghanaian popular musician A.B. Crentsil said in one of his interested composed songs? If no, then let me quickly remind you. He said, "God has turned old man and sitting in the heaven places. When he finishes eating and relaxing, then he gives instructions".

God has not become old man and does not eat and only to relax and give instructions but he was here referring to someone but did not want to speak direct to him. Mr. A.B. Crentsil was all the time attacked by many Ghanaians who taught that his words were profane and very insulting.

But now if you listen to various speeches coming from the first couple Mr. Jeremiah John Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, they have become old couples and now, after they have enjoyed their rich food and relaxing, give instructions anyhow as well as "talk boom, boom".

Not that alone, they are commenting on issues and the way they go about them always make them create more hatred for themselves especially now that they are not in power as president and first lady.

Do not forget that there is a popular adage that goes like this, "when you point your accusing finger at someone, remember the remaining four are directed at you" so in numerical strength, the accuser is more accused than the one he is accusing.

Oh so the former president can insult once party in power describing them as criminals? When the then president Kufuor, told Ghanaians how the nation was before he was ushered into office the NDC government, he was trashed for that. Now he Rawlings is accusing former president Kufuor and describing him and his former ministers as criminals?

For many political analysts, the former president Mr. J.J. Rawlings and his iron lady wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, seem to be, ironically, creating more hatred for themselves and their party NDC.

As first former couple of the fourth republic of Ghana, a lot of decency is expected from them as far as character building, good speeches and role modeling has become very important in the country at the moment.

Listening to their recent speeches at the celebration of the already dead June 4, clearly indicates that they are carrying themselves as president and first lady respectively. Amazingly, the incumbent president Professor John Evans Atta Mills and his respectful wife Naadu Mills have been cautiously dealing with issues. As the president digest issues very well before coming out, the wife is not jumping around to take over responsibilities of ministers as was being done by the Rawlingses.

During the election campaign, NPP presidential candidate Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo made it clear that a vote for Atta Mills was a vote for Rawlings which drew a lot of swords from the camp of the NDC hawks who said it was empty campaign message.

Mr. A.B. Crentsil's words are manifesting as someone has become too old and now when he finishes eating, come out from his relaxing mood only to give instructions and it's happening in Ghana now and you know whom am talking about.

It took the president, a lot of time to come and clear the air after former president Rawlings, has gone to the air force base to take pictures and assured all Ghanaians that his party was back which threatened many that he was going to push the incumbent president aside and dish out his punishment to those he has always been describing as criminals.

Comments on various radio stations suggested that the former president was overshadowing the incumbent and worse of it was when the NPP candidate returned from his seven day holiday trip in Europe and thousands of supporters trooped to the airport to welcome him.

The size of the crowd sent some shivers down the spine of the incumbent president and their party NDC, forcing the president to come out from his shell and issue the first press statement ever after the voters have tagged him as a "hidden bride" because after the election he was no where to be found.

Yes he has his opinions and can comment about any issue concerning the administration of the country irrespective of who is the president but have to do so with tact and much respect.

It should be made clear that they are former first couples and that they have to sit aside and give the incumbent president and his ministers the freedom to run the country.

Comparatively, former president John Agyekum Kufuor and his respected wife Theresa Kufuor have remained silent since they handed over power to the incumbent president; attending to their family issues I guess. They are not just silent but there is the believe that they have been taking notes of issues concerning the running of the nation under the NDC administration but have been making their observations known by channeling them through the laid down procedure.

We need some decency in the system. For instance, as Ghanaians strive to inject discipline into the system at a time our youth have been talking 'by-heart' on radio stations, we expect the former first couples to serve as role models by being decent in their speeches for others to emulate.

The calmness of president Atta Mills, his wife and some members of the NDC, have been praised and I urged them to continue. Ghanaians no more want to listen to indecent speeches, fake campaign messages and the likes. The insults are too much and destructing the presidents attention from running the country the way we want it to be.

We want former president Rawlings and his wife to present decent speeches anywhere and anytime, but not anyhow. Let us have some decency in the system please.

Credit: Stephen Quaye
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