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It's Nana All The Way

By Daily Guide
Opinion It's Nana All The Way
OCT 23, 2014 LISTEN

This is not the end, this is not even the beginning of the end, this is just perhaps the end of the beginning

Winston Churchill
A quitter never wins and a winner never quits
Napoleon Hill
 
'When you win, you don't examine it very much, except to congratulate yourself, you easily and wrongly assume it has something to do with your rare qualities as a person. But winning only measures how hard you have worked and how physically talented you are; it doesn't partially define you beyond these characteristics.

'Losing on the other hand, really does say something about who you are. Among other things it measures are: do you blame others, or do you own the loss? Do you analyse your failure, or just complain about bad luck?

'If you're willing to examine failure and to look not just at your outward physical performance, but your internal workings too,  losing can be remarkable. How you behave in those moments can perhaps be more self - defining than winning could ever be. Sometimes losing shows you for who you really are.'

 
Lance Armstrong 'Every Second Counts'
DÉJÀ VU. ALREADY SEEN. The signs were clear; the air blew it; the rains foretold it; and it was no magic. The premonition, the precognition and the prophecy could not bespeak otherwise. The man, Akufo-Addo, had worked for it and it was no fluke that he earned 94.35% of the 117,413 votes cast at the presidential primaries last Saturday, 18 th October, 2014. The milling crowd that thronged his rallies; the melodious serenades that pierced the medulla oblongata; the long chain of personalities that defied ebola to shake hands with him - all told the full story of a story well - rehearsed and adequately rehashed for future generations. It was a fitting reward for someone who had made a worthy sacrifice for the party and adequately paid his dues. After the 'Atugubaic Judgment', any slip of his tongue could have plunged this nation into chaos—and I might not be writing this piece now. There were people ready for action!

The spanking was tsunami - like and in the end, the annihilated Alan Kyerematen who got an embarrassing 5,908 votes, representing 4.75% was able to wreak a wry smile. No matter how one looks at it, he uttered a remarkably sententious and epigrammatic (short, meaningful) epilogue: 'After competition, there is cooperation'.

Kyerematen, in his wildest dreams and fantasies, felt he could attract the 'floating voters'. Well, he could, but before he reached them, he had the sea - monster or the dragon to confront - the hurdle of the NPP voters. These people could not be discounted, and their threat; 'No Nana, no vote' was not a wee threat. It was pregnant with a dapper and swanky maxim. They could recall Kyerematen's resignation from the NPP in 2008 when he alleged the molestation of his supporters. For these primary elections, either his aides and spokespersons did not read the political signals correctly or were only interested in collecting their booties from the fortunes he had acquired from his sojourns. Some people could have made better advisers, but how accessible could he be to those branded as 'against' people. Some people were hated because they spoke the truth: veteran Appiah-Menka would not be spared by making a very humble suggestion, to spare the contestants the impending humiliation!

Honourable Addai - Nimoh's dream of following the footsteps of one- time lucky Dr. Hilla Limann was made murkier even by his own Mampong electorate. He was not a known figure in the NPP reckoning and he was warned to toddle before he tried to pace and promenade. Securing 1,128 votes representing 0.91% is nothing to be proud about and his slogan: 'It is our time' could not have been for himself and his cohorts but for Nana and the entire- NPP fold.The NPP believes in 'toeing the line'– no one is expected to jump the queue, no matter how rich, how handsome, how tall, how vociferous one is.

A word for those who pulled out of the race at the nick of time, and we all hail Honourable Osei Ameyaw and Honourable Joe Ghartey for listening good and timely advice. They threw their weight behind Nana and it yielded fruitful results. They were among the 'chosen five' and they could have insisted on their democratic right to compete to the end of the journey.

For the two others who could not make it (and we are talking about Asamoah Boateng and Apraku) one could wish them better luck next time. They contributed in no small way to make democracy work, and to make the competition livelier.

Now that the 'die is cast' and people have found their 'smoothness level,' the onus is on the NPP to work as a team if they are to an impact at the national level.with 'foot - soldiers' in every nook and cranny of the country, the job is made easier.

There should be a search for dedicated men and women who could be entrustedto do the work not people who would rely on a few hangers - on to say: 'Y'awie biribiara' (we have finished everything). The cash meant for campaign should go to the people who will make good use of it - not people who will keep it and make sumptuous meals or pack it to build mansions.

The spokespersons should also be warned. They should get the facts before they committhemselves on radio or TV talk - shows. They shoul talk to the people, analyzing what they (the NPP) could do differently to change the fortunes of Ghana. They should elaborate the victory speech of Nana Addo: 'we can fulfill in founding fathers to build a free, prosperous, modern African nation governed on the principles of democratic accountability, the rule of law and social justice. Let us be up and doing'. They themselves should know what NOT to say on radio and TV. Hilda Addo and Nana ohene Ntow shoul re- divert their attacks.

Mr Paul Afoko, the chairman of the NPP made an unjaundicedspeech when he noted that with the declaration of the winner of the presidential primary, all factions in the party were dead. For historical purposes, Afoko's speech must be embroidered with gold: ' For us to get into the Jubilee House, the work starts from now. If this morning you were not embracing your brother because you were supporting other people, let me tell you that in this party there is no room for factions any longer; the factions are dead. We have only on faction and that faction is called NPP'.

The NPP has chosen 'democracy'. Even though there is no consensus to define 'democracy', it is agreed that legal equality, freedom of individual and the rule of law are important characteristics of 'democracy'. Karl Popper sees democracy as focusing on the right of the people to control their leaders and to oust them without the need for a revolution.

Anarchists like Pierre Joseph Proudhon argue that the only acceptable form of democracy is one in which it is recognised that majority decisions are not binding on the minority. Vilfredo Parreto and Gaetano Mosca argue that 'democracy' is illusory and serves only to mask the reality of elit rule. In spite of all these aberrations, we believe in Ghana and our constitutions embraces it - individual freedom to form a one - man party.

Just as we have in the United  Kingdom, apart from the two main political parties: the conservatives and the labour Party, they also have the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, Sinn Fein … they also have No Candidate  Desrves my vote Party, Pirate Party, Fancy Dress Party, Official Monster Raving Loomy Party. The rationale for such proliferation of parties is obvious: allow the individual his God -given 'freewill' and the individual insists on iit , the parliament fosters it and the judiciary backs it - by law.

The expectations of Ghanaians are higher than ever. The NPP has a formidable competitor the NDC. None in the NPP should deceive himself into believing that by what they think are the 'failures' of the NDC, they can have an easy ride. Who in a government party would easily give up the freebies and the … of power on a silver platter to the opposition? A bitter fight should be anticipated

 

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