Election 2020: A December 7 gospel, of a mother & a professor

Kabu🇬🇭Nartey writes live from Central Region

Matthew 19:14:

She'd insist after every rally that "I'm not on the ballot paper so please don't go looking for me". She'd add that when you vote for John Dramani Mahama as the next President, and so-so-and-so as Member of Parliament for your area, then you have voted for me. She'd say also, on December 7, you're voting for 2 persons to lead you and coincidentally, the NDC is number 2 on the ballot paper; so remember 2 sure, 2 direct.

What follows this ritual is a demonstration of how you should vote for it be counted as valid. She'd say in the local language :

1. Ink your thumb, position it at the exact middle of the ballot paper you're given; and

2. Make sure you wipe thoroughly the ink on your thumb with a tissue-paper after thump-printing before folding the paper.

Here is the Vice Presidential Candidate of the NDC, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang wrapping up her listening tour and campaign to the chiefs and peoples across the country.

A common spectacle that lingers in the minds of many and the media is her affinity for women, children and the youth. You may have observed a number of pictures of her with a child or responding to an emotive sight of enthusiastic men and women ; or a scene of teeming youth singing in chorus "maami o den den".

She opens up her arms widely to a child approaching. Such scenes could be likened to the biblical Matthew 19:14 account only that this time around, it could be alluded to read "let the child come unto me; for their's is my reason for coming into leadership".

In the midst of the multitude, she spots the girl-child or boy-child and waves at it. She'd say the child's inability to understand what she's saying is a more reason Ghanaians must safeguard their tomorrow by voting change for John Mahama, #2. She'd say the elections must not be business as usual rather a gifted opportunity to determine the future of the recently born and yet-to-be-born.

In one of these spectacles, a special child is brought to her. She gently places her hand on her shoulders and mutters some words. It's not one of mere conversations so she reduces her voice-volume drastically so none could hear her, she goes intimate with the child. The seeming warmth in her touch, the steady look in her eyes and the sincerity in her voice must be assuring and medicinal for this child. All I could hear at the end after straining to eavesdrop was "Nyame nshira wo" meaning God/Allah bless you.

Indeed, for many children, women and youths, this is all they need in this elections - Whilst some need a message of one million jobs, free fertilizers, free primary healthcare, free tertiary education, and legalized okada ( inter alia) ; all that others need is a towering hope and whisper that "things are going to be fine and better under the leadership of John Mahama"; coupled with a warm and gentle touch from a distinguished professor and mother.

The author, Kabu Nartey is the GJA Student Journalist of the Year ( 2018); a Political Communications Strategist and a Kufuor Scholars Fellow. Kabu is the author of a soon-to publish political book on his late father, his family struggles and his struggle during the Revolutionary days under the late J.J Rawlings - "A President in Exile"

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