Leave Akufo Addo & The NPP To Their Handbags And Gladrags: The NDC Must Set The Agenda!

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

During a meeting I attended recently, there was heated debate regarding current happenings in Ghana. As I heard the arguments and counter arguments, on the NPP and Nana Addo's 'illogical' court case and the minority's 'illogical' position of boycotting the President and whatever he does, and whether there is a need to match them boot for boot or let them be?

I couldn't help but remember the lyrics of Stereophonic's version of D'Abo's classic 'hand bags and glad rags'. Particularly, the opening two stanzas of the lyrics kept coming back to me:

“Ever seen a blind man cross the road, Trying to make the other side,

Ever seen a young girl growing old, Trying to make herself a bride,

So what becomes of you my love, When they have finally stripped you of

The handbags and the gladrags, That your poor old Grandad, Had to sweat to buy you”

In my opinion, Nana Akufo Addo and the NPP have become the lady the lyricist is referring to as a young girl growing old but trying to make herself a bride.

The people of Ghana on the 7th and 8th of December, 2012 voted President John Dramani Mahama as a clear and deserving winner as so declared by the constitutionally mandated body charged with running the elections. Therefore, until the Supreme Court declares otherwise, which I very much doubt, we have a constitutionally elected President.

For this reason, the NDC and its government must move swiftly, with the 'urgency of now' in executing its mandate and solving the myriad of challenges this beautiful nation of ours faces.

In the meantime, as we await the supreme courts declaration that albeit, with some challenges and infinitesimal amount of irregularities which cannot be avoided in an election of the type that any nation faces during its election cycle; the 2012 elections were free, fair, and transparent, with a clear winner who has fittingly being sworn in as President already.

That the said general election was witnessed and monitored by the international community that has affirmed indeed, that the results represents the will of the people. Accordingly, the people of Ghana have since moved on as evidenced by the split within even the New Patriotic party's own rank and file, as to their post election conduct.

However, as Nana Addo and the Akyem mafia make their own way to the abattoir, where they will be stripped of their handbags, glad rags, affectation, and subsequently slaughtered, with their political carcass fed to the masses of public opinion and oblivion; the NDC and its government must for once set the agenda for the politico-socio-economic discourse.

The NDC and the government must be on message; it must empower the communication apparatchiks to lead the socio-political agenda setting in this country. Skilfully steering public opinion and moving the discourse towards achievements, ongoing programmes, aspirations, as well as inviting the public to come along with their ideas and suggestions to support the President in his quest to move this nation forward, towards achieving the better Ghana mantra.

Undoubtedly, there are no better communicators at the disposal of the President in this process of setting the politico-socio-economic agenda; than the Presidents own Sector Ministers.

The new crop of Ministers should not become a part of the bureaucratic classes, warming their chairs and desk whilst pushing pen and paper instructions. No! Far from it! We need them to be out there, setting the strategic direction of their various ministries according to the overarching vision of the President, concentrating on policy formulation and cracking the weep on implementing bodies to ensure we are achieving the better Ghana we promised the people of this country.

They must make themselves available, in fact, they must join forces with party and government communications teams so that communicators understand and are abreast with happenings within their various ministries; in order that they can tell a seamless, synergised story.

The NDC and government cannot allow a dying horse to continue to set the agenda. We must consign the NPP to its place as the largest opposition party and Nana Addo as the one time Presidential candidate of the largest opposition party in Ghana, period! We have no place worrying about or countering what the NPP is doing.

Their stock is down, they are starved of any sort of good news or victory so they are in the market for little worthless victories which the NDC must not grant them the luxury of having anytime in the near and foreseeable future. We run the country, they don't, so let us show them 'who is boss' by executing our manifesto promises and giving this country total development.

Mr. President, the current crisis in the delivery of utilities to the average Ghanaian, offers you a golden opportunity to take the bull by the horn, by giving Ghanaians some 'kick ass' leadership that has never before been experienced in this country.

We have the opportunity today, to take the people of this country with us towards true social democracy and towards the provision of equality of opportunities. Let us seize this moment to set the agenda. As for Nana Addo, what becomes of him and the NPP, when they are finally stripped of their handbags and the gladrags that their ancestors (Danquah-Busia-Dombo), had to sweat to buy them; your guess is as good as mine!