Intrigues About An Award

In our opinion, there has never been so much anxiety, ado and undercutting in an award in which a Ghanaian, and for that matter a former President, was tipped to win.

Credible information has it that when it was clear that the Ghanaian statesman was in the reckoning as the man to receive the Mo Ibrahim good governance award, strategies, intriguing in mould, were quickly arrived at to, as it were, pour water over the beckoning prize, ironically by his own compatriots.

Those behind the intrigues could not imagine a man they so despised receiving and relishing such a prestigious award when their man was never even considered for anything as close.

Their hatred for Statesman Kufuor was visibly displayed when on the eve of President Obama's visit to Ghana, they openly said they could not tolerate “that guy” and would pretend to smile during the Castle breakfast meeting.

For persons wielding political power, such manouvres rarely fail, especially when such individuals have an unenviable pedigree of sadism.

No wonder therefore in the end, a “no show” verdict was posted.

They popped champagne in celebration of the former President not getting the award, when he was indeed the closest to clinching it.

Kufuor continues to pull his tray of achievements around the world, their muffled and open ranting notwithstanding.

They invested so much in scuttling what could have been another feather in the cap of Ghana, making us want to know whether really they have the welfare of the country at heart.

Some of them could not even hide their amusement, as they engaged in rhapsodies of sorts.

Many who felt disappointed and even cheated about the unusual “no-show” verdict, by the venerable Prize Committee of the foundation, managed a wry smile and the remark, “the cynics have had their way after months of manouvres and diplomatic string-pulling.”

Politics of hatred which has become an important feature in this country is causing a lot of harm.

The togetherness we exhibited when the Satellites were in action against Brazil could not be mustered in the face of the beckoning award.

It has eluded us as a country and we wonder just what that would bring to them. They have created a despicable impression in the minds of the Committee that Ghanaians are a strange lot. A group of people who can go this far to satisfy the bile in them is not worth getting close to or even taking serious when they preach about nation-building.

Coming to the Prize Committee itself, we do not have any quarrel with the kind of decision they took, but suffice it to state that their independence has suffered a certain blemish and doubt for that matter.

That there could be a year without winners is not in dispute since after all, this was mentioned during the launch of the programme a few years ago.

The circumstances underlying the “no-show” verdict at the 11th hour has prompted a lot of questions which do not help the sustenance of the prestige associated with the award.

We salute Mo Ibrahim for instituting the awards as a way of encouraging good governance on the continent even though what transpired in this year's segment leaves much to be desired.

We would like it if the Prize Committee could shield itself from external interference in the way it manages its affairs.

Raising hopes and dashing them smack of disrespect when respectable personalities, such as retired presidents with no coup-making records, are concerned.

Credit: Daily Guide