Talking And Doing

Last week, President Mahama delivered his third SOTN address to Parliament. As we are wont to do, there has been praise and condemnation for his speech.

Some have stated boldly that he only showed his command of the English language without saying anything. Others have discounted the place of speech in leadership. In fact, the ability to speak well matters a lot in leadership. Diverse leaders, from Jesus to John Kennedy to Martin Luther King to Nkrumah have demonstrated this time and time again.

I think the President gave a good speech. His acknowledgement of Nana Akufo-Addo, his expression of thanks to the EC Chair, Dr. Afari Gyan, his detailed information on infrastructure which was later hailed by the Minority leader and his specific and verifiable promises on “Dumsor” or more to the point, “Dumkoraa” were significant.

His acknowledgement of Nana Addo, coupled with the courteous reception accorded him by Parliament was good for our democracy.

Thanking Afari Gyan, who, despite criticism, has overseen, not one but two transitions between parties in a continent where such transitions are so rare deserves our acknowledgment and gratitude. As I write, Nigeria may be on the verge of such a transition and the tension there should remind every Ghanaian of the debt owed to Afari Gyan.

While the President's speech was good, it will have little effect on 2016. In fact, it may come back to haunt him. If “Dumsor” is still with us, we will see on our TV sets and hear on our radio, the President promising to fix it and the inevitable questions about why he did not fix it.

Governments do not get re-elected based on speeches. They get re-elected based on performance. FDR did not get re-elected three times because he spoke well. He got re-elected because he fixed the US economy, created jobs and won WW11. Before him, Lincoln did not win re-election in 1864 because of the Gettysburg address--- he won because his Generals--- Grant and Sherman were winning the Civil war on the ground. Even in Ghana, we do not celebrate Nkrumah because he delivered great speeches--- which he did. We celebrate him as our greatest President because he left tangible things--- Akosombo Dam, Tema Harbour, Tema Motorway, etc.

As a lady friend once told me, “Talk is cheap”. If the President does not deliver on his promises, he will be punished at the polls --- and he will deserve it.

In 2016, regardless of how many great speeches the President delivers, the question Ghanaians will be answering is “Are you better off than you were 4 years ago”.

From now till 2016, the NDC will be trying to help us answer that question. Meanwhile, it was a good speech. Let's move on.

Arthur Kobina Kennedy