Mahama Trusted ‘Coconut Heads’ for the Ashanti Region

Fate is becoming kind to the Ghanaian youth under the new Mahama administration. It appears President Mahama is taking the Ghanaian youth serious in his appointments to Ministerial and other top positions in government. Very recent is the appointment of 36-year old Medical Practitioner and NDC Ashanti Regional Secretary, Dr. Frank Amoakohene as the Ashanti Regional Minister. Under Mahama, the youth do not contain ‘Coconut Heads.’

Dr. Frank Amoakohene will administer the region on behalf of President Mahama and also chair the Regional Security Council. The powerful Asantehene will be under his umbrella. Also, loose talkers like K. T. Hammond will have no choice but to be led by the youth whom they described as having ‘Coconut Heads’ and ‘Empty Heads.’ The youth will have no choice but to make President Mahama proud.

It is fair to conclude that President Mahama is not only determined to fulfill his promise to create a new Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment to address the numerous challenges facing the Ghanaian youth but also determined to integrate the youth in key aspects of the economy such that key decisions cannot be said to be taken by only the old on behalf of the Ghanaian youth and on behalf of all of us.

President Mahama’s high recognition of the Ghanaian youth is in sharp contrast with the previous NPP government under President Nana Addo. We must remember the Former Minister for Trade and Industry, K. T. Hammond’s unpalatable description of the Ghanaian youth. He said; “We will continue to admonish you the young men and women to be patient. When there's an issue to be addressed, society always consults the elderly. Not you the young ones, whose heads are like coconuts.”

He was also reported to have said that; “It's not possible for the governance of the country to be left to only you, the youth. You won't be able to do it in the first place, and you won't even understand. You've kept your beards unkempt in town, but there's nothing in your head.”

K. T. Hammond’s unfortunate comments were in reaction to how the youth at the 2022 Global Citizens Festival hooted at Former President Nana Addo when he mounted the podium to speak. The aggrieved youth were seen and heard commanding the Former President to stop speaking and leave the stage. They were not happy with the way the economy was managed. Inflation reaching a high 54 percent, unemployed a record high of about 14 percent and a debt overload forcing us to run to the IMF on wheel chairs.

If the aged, have so mismanaged the economy in a way no one ever thinks, why must the Ghanaian youth be condemned as having coconut heads when they agitate? But it is not only K. T. Hammond who is guilty of victimizing the Ghanaian youth. President Nana Addo and many NPP senior figures are guilty too. We have seen several youth arrested and maltreated with some even murdered as they agitate for better living conditions and good governance.

Thankfully, a youthful Godwin Animli Dorgbadzi Dorani unseated K. T. Hammond and will replace him (Hammond) in the 9th Parliament. Because K. T. Hammond believes the youth have ‘Coconut Heads,’ he took Godwin for granted and before he could open his eyes his seat was snatched from him. The youth must rule and youth enemies like K. T. Hammond must follow.

President Mahama’s return to power is a good omen for the Ghanaian youth. Dr. Frank Amoakohene and the several youth who will be getting the opportunity to serve must demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt the Ghanaian youth do not have coconut heads. They must prove that their heads are not empty but contain adequate leadership skills ready to take this country to greater heights.

After four years, we expect to look back and say the circumstances that compel the Ghanaian youth to hoot at Nana Addo are no more. A stable macro-economic environment, incorruptible leadership, major infrastructural development among others is what the Ghanaian requires and the youth are trusted to deliver on these needs.