Which is the best antidote, Mahama’s reset or Bawumia’s upgrade?

No one can deny that, 7th December 2024 will go down as the most unforgettable and significant day in Ghana’s history, the day will present Ghanaians the opportunity to participate in arguably the most important elections in the history of the country. Any decision made on this day will have far reaching consequences on the future directions of this country, it will affect the current generation as well as the generations yet unborn.

Realistically speaking, this election is between the two major political parties, i.e. the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who are presenting former President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia respectively as their candidates, no disrespect to other candidates.

The two major candidates are propounding a completely diverse trajectory aimed at fixing the current quagmire bedevilling the country and the citizens.

Whiles former President John Mahama of the NDC is a proponent of a “Reset” of the current state of the country, the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP is on the trajectory of “Upgrade”. In their respective views, these divergent trajectories are the antidotes for Ghana’s current sorry state. It is therefore imperative to evaluate the stance of the two leading candidates and ascertain which of the two trajectories will solve the problems we are facing going forward.

System Restore (RESET) is a feature in Microsoft Windows that allows the user to revert their computer's state to that of a previous point in time, which can be used to recover from system malfunctions or other problems. Conversely, upgrade is about improving the quality or usefulness of something, or to raise something or someone to a higher position or rank.

Looking at the current state of this country, it suffice to say that the system of this country is malfunctioned, after what the country has been subjected through in the past seven and half years, the only thing that is required in the short-term is to restore the system of this country to where it was before the 2016 general elections, in order to address the malfunctioning. All the gains made from 1992 to 2017 have been eroded by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia led government. The sad but unavoidable truth is that, this country has retrogressed three decades back under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government. As a result of the actions and selfishness of the government and its appointees, patriotism among the populace has plummeted, Civil Servants are cowed into silence, confidence in the country is at its lowest ebb, and the youth are leaving the country through dangerous and perilous routes. Sadly, the culprits and perpetrators of this unforgivable crime are adamant and bent on hanging onto power in order to be able to conceal the rot they perpetrated between 2017 to date. They (NPP) are propounding upgrade. What is there to upgrade under the current circumstance? Upgrade is done to enhance a functioning system not on a default system.

This country is akin to a patient in an intensive care unit of a hospital, the only way to save him or her is to try and stabilise their situation before any treatment begins. Ghana needs urgent change of direction, it cannot afford to continue on the current trajectory.

Ghana's current challenges required a different type of leadership that is willing to take unconventional approaches, a leadership that is open to divergent views, willing to listen and engage with all stakeholders. If one reflects on the state of the country objectively, the most logical and honest conclusion they will draw is that, we need a government with a new paradigm shift, and willing to sacrifice personal comforts to achieve a Ghana of shared prosperity for all of us and not just a few. We are in a crucial moment where dispassionate but critical and logical decisions are required.

The decision we make on 7^th December 2024 will determine whether Ghana can overcome its current challenges, there is therefore the need to make logical decisions devoid of love or hatred, the important thing in our minds should be how to save the life of a patient called Ghana currently in need of swift and decisive action to stay alive.

We cannot have the same people who have arrogantly and incompetently brought us to where we are to continue beyond the 2024, in the most highly unlikely event that this happens, Ghana will be a hell for Ghanaians and there will be absolutely no hope for the youth and the future generations. In the past eight years, we have witnessed the highest rate of inflation, highest currency depreciation, highest national debt and highest level of unemployment since 1992. We even have to suspend servicing our external debt due to the economic crises we are facing, you cannot upgrade these, it is impossible to upgrade defects, reset is the solution to defects and defaults.

The 2024 elections presents an opportunity to vote for a leadership that will instil confidence, hope, and a renewed sense of patriotism among Ghanaians which will lead to national development. A leadership that will lead us to build a Ghana that can sustain itself, uphold the rule of law, foster shared prosperity, safeguard democracy, protect citizens from abuse, and ensure access to essential life necessities for all, and that leadership is Former President John Dramani Mahama and Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.

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