The Mosquito’s Bluff

Johnson Asiedu Nketia, aka General Mosquito, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is not known to be mindful about the repercussions of his expressions.

The media love interviewing him because of his outlandish expressions which make sensational sound bites, especially on social media.

He is reported to have said that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is behind the unpopular Mahama third-term bid agenda. Those who heard him wondered what that meant because, logically, it is unsound. But that is eccentric General Mosquito for you on the political terrain.

His hatred for the Electoral Commission (EC) is known to observers of the local political ambience long before we reached where we are today.

The lull in his many vituperations against the Commission changed a couple of days ago when he tried to trigger mirth about the Chairperson during a radio interview.

Unfortunately, he only exposed himself to the many sane Ghanaians who would rather democracy is protected by all means.

Ensuring the Chairperson of the EC and her staff are allowed to function independently devoid of interference by any of the arms of government is a sure means of safeguarding the independence of the Commission.

Unfortunately, there is a no-love-lost relationship between the NDC Chairman, his party and the EC.

During the interview, he said something which was telling. He said they “would stop pursuing the Chairperson because the two deputy chairpersons she worked with have resigned and left.”

There could not have been a better expose about how much the NDC tried to frustrate the lady over the years. They deliberately put many spanners in the works of the Commission just so she would not be able to deliver. It was an effort at giving her stewardship a bad name and hanging her.

She has escaped the snares and continues to function as Chairperson of the birthers of presidents and, therefore, constituting a critical constituent of democracy.

We are appalled as are many others about the open hatred for the Commission by the NDC Chairman.

If our democracy must survive, we must begin to exude sincere deference for the independent institutions within this ambience.

To state that Ms. Jean Mensa would be lonely being at the Commission alone without her deputies suggests that, in the estimation of the NDC Chairman, the exit of the two deputies was a welcome development for the ruling party.

If the foregone also imputes that replacements would be made in a manner which inure to the interest of the NDC, then democracy must be waiting for another shock. The good thing is that most Ghanaians are ready to protect democracy regardless of the machinations of the NDC.

The NDC Chairman and his party should have known by now that elections these days can hardly be rigged, mechanisms on the ground making such thievery impossible.

Whoever is appointed to serve as a deputy to Ms. Jean Mensa would understand that tampering with the electoral process can trigger negative consequences.

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