Nana Addo Versus NPP Chances

I do not write as a party faithful but as a Ghanaian who is more interested in ensuring accountability and probity in Ghana. Accountability? Probity? Do they still exist? Well if the duo were animals surely they have been khebabed and if they were government companies then they have been privatized. Being a Ghanaian and having exercised my franchise for 14 years and seeing how things are going, I do not intend to burry my head in the sand like my sister ostrich but bark at it like my brother german-shepherd. I have come to believe that though accountability and probity exist yet submerged in the marine of sycophantic flamboyancy. And the only thing that can make them flash like a Johanine-meteorite, especially in the first years of any ruling party is a CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. Doubting? Democratic Change of government always resurrect some institutions like CHRAJ, DOVSU, SFO, Audit Service, Police Service and almighty BNI. Surely these institutions are there for our good though intermittently held hostage by politicians. I have come to believe as Qoheleth will put it; 'my lot marked out for me' is to salivate accountability and probity from a planet away at most once every four years. To ensure our lot is not delayed, I risk to venture into some political calculations. Anyway, my experience from the last election has made me believe that Ghanaians are traditionalists. Get me right, am not talking about our affiliation to the traditional religion but a traditional way of doing things. It shocked me to the quick, when I heard the number of votes Dr. Coconut grove [Adwumawura] got, after all that splendid performance at various interviews and public lectures. After all those momentous ovations accorded Dr. Adwumawura, when the Ghanaian was left in front of the ballot paper to choose like key-soap; tradition goes on, it was either NPP or NDC. Not bad but what it means is that if we want to salivate the duo then we need to be putting certain things in place. First and most vital of all is to ensure that we put in a candidate who can wrestle power from the ruling government at most on the third attempt, in other words at most after the ruling government have served two terms. What it means is that [this is my private policy] no government should serve more than two terms continuously.

It is in this view that I will want to look at Nana and his chances. I hope not to offend anyone but then I freely give you the license to offend me if you feel that is what you wish people to do to you. Nana is clearly the age mate of our current president. Second it is has proven not to be the tradition for a government to lose power after first term [debatable?] and third Ghanaians are traditionalists I reiterate. Having these in mind it will not be the best for NPP and us Ghanaians who wish to salivate the duo to get him lead the party. Why? If the unfortunate happens in 2012, in 2016 Nana cannot contest again because by then he will be too old to take up this sweet cross. And that will mean that the party will have to market a totally fresh face. This is not easy. If on the other side NDC wisely put forward the Veep, oh my God our lot will be very much delayed. So what is this buffoon putting across? Killing two birds with one stone but also rendering the third bird incapable of flying, NPP will strongly have to look of younger candidate who in case the party is unsuccessful in 2012 can carry on to 2016 for a walk-over victory. I know am crazy but just go over it again, isn't this plan going to help the party in a broader sense?

Joe Tony
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