NPP DELEGATES: “BEWARE, THE IDES OF DECEMBER”

The current democracy in Ghana and the ongoing nomination process in the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) are unprecedented in the annals of the country's history. The fact that eighteen people are contesting to be the flag bearer of the party is proof positive of the progress and development the incumbent party has attained for Ghana. Each one of the contestants indubitably wants to continue the good work of the current government. However, there are those who seem to prophecy that they'd command milk and honey to rain from above to alleviate the plight of ordinary Ghanaian. Others have attempted to invoke religion as a political divide to court empathy and sympathy. Yet, a greater proportion of them believe that prior positions and cordial relationships qualified them to lead the party and the country.

The 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary race would also be the clash of the titans between the two dominant parties of Ghana, the National Democratic Convention (NDC) and the NPP. Both parties have reigned for two terms on the nascent democratic country. With the discovery of huge off shore oil fields, the 2008 elections could either make or break Ghana depending on the leadership that prevails. Ghana could take off like Singapore or swim in poverty despite the abundance of oil. Who must be elected in the NPP delegates' conference, come December 22?

The NDC is waiting and watching. Make no mistake, the flag bearer of the NDC, Professor Atta Mills, is a force to be reckoned with. Like President Kuffour, Atta Mills has some calmness and peacefulness about him, a quality Ghanaians cherish so much given our ability to live alongside one another, thus far. Ghanaians love peace, a quantity that has held us apart from neighboring warring countries. Before the NPP came to power, the only party/leadership known to the young generation in Ghana was Rawlings's PNDC/NDC. Like a bird, the strength of the NDC lies in the wings of its youth because the party took care of them. It is upon this premise that the NPP must elect a winnable candidate against the formidable Atta Mills and the NDC.

The (NPP) candidate to be elected MUST, therefore, be a person that the NDC cannot easily mudsling. With the long tentacles of the PNDC/NDC era, one can be certain that the NDC has dossiers on most of the leading candidates of NPP. Conventional wisdom dictates that should such a thing exist, the lesser the dirt, the better it would be for NPP. The NDC would not hesitate to ridicule and embarrass the NPP flag bearer at any opportunity it gets, both internally and externally. The delegates should think out of the box to parry away any potential low blow by NDC attacking dogs. It is no secret that NDC would want to turn the tables by any means possible. A WRONG CHOICE by the delegates would be A RIGHT CHOICE for the NDC to pound the candidate and thus the NPP into submission.

The NPP aspiring candidates are spending money like there is no tomorrow. Where are all these monies coming from? Are they coming from foreign interests? No individual or entity (Ghanaian or expatriate) doles out huge political funds out of sheer goodwill. There are always some sorts of strings attached. As the Americans say, “there is no such thing as a free lunch!” It does not take a rocket scientist to conclude that the party is in an auction hall, packaged for the highest bidder. The fruit does not seem to fall far off from the tree. Aspiring candidates with less political funds and funding are practically non existent and short out of the process. Would the NPP consciously and conscientiously “sell” Ghana, oil et al to an expatriate (419 etc) and hope for a better future? Surprisingly, the party's hierarchy seems helpless and toothless to stem the problem. Sooner or later, the free flow of money would come back to haunt the party. Delegates to the December 22 congress must not sell their conscience. Bartering votes to the highest bidder does not only sell the conscience of the party, but it is tantamount to selling NPP to NDC!

As the candidates sprint to the last mile, attempts would be made to break away for a lead among the pack. Unexpectedly somehow, the ethnic and tribal cards have started to show their ugly presence among some of the competing candidates. This is a frustrating and dangerous phenomenon. A quick look around Africa and elsewhere would let one conclude that Ghana has been blessed with diverse, yet harmonious tribes within its boundaries. Whoever thought various tribes in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, (and not considering the cultural divide between the Igbo and Yoruba) once thriving peaceful communities, would fly at each others throat? Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah might be turning in his grave on hearing the tribal card being played out in Ghana politics. He discouraged tribalism by building boarding schools that brought together various tribes of the country. Friendships, marriages, etc of different ethnicity were created out of these environments. These patriots unconsciously did not only reduce but almost eliminated tribalism in Ghana. Competition is a healthy component of any true democracy, politics included, but racism and tribalism are polarizing agents in any politics, especially Ghana and African. They are self serving and destructive.

There are prices to be paid – inherent, latent, or otherwise - in every democratic society. How much price SHALL or CAN Ghana pay? For the NPP, the onus lies on the delegates of December 22. What Ghana needs is a candidate with broad knowledge who is able to grasp hold of the critical issues that face the country. At this point in time, we cannot entrust the presidency of Ghana to a clueless person. The congress must elect an un-bought, un-bossed, un-compromised, ethnically undivisive, and most importantly, an experienced can- do party man. None may completely measure up to the task, but at least one of them might come close. Elect that person. The NPP would forever be history if it blows this chance and allows the NDC to carry the elections of 2008.