Ghana Electorate Checklist For Informed Choices: What Has Emerged So Far?

1. Although the 2020 elections in Ghana is two and half years away, the two dominant parties are not leaving any stones unturned hurling at each other, testing pulses, and making noteworthy footprints in the minds and hearts of seemingly wavering and unpredictable electorate. An essential civic responsibility requirement of citizens (and not spectators) is to make informed choices in the critical decision on the selection of who should have the mandate to steer the affairs of the nation within a specified period. Major sources of guidance and reference for such informed choices are the daily occurrences, utterances, happenings, events, trends, practices, performance of the leaders and major actors whether rulers or the ruled, party in power or opposition.

2. Over the past year and more, the landscape of Ghana politics has witnessed some interestingly revealing utterances, observations and occurrences which arguably would constitute ingredients of a comprehensive handy checklist as reference guides for the electorate’s informed choices in elections 2020. The Ghanaian electorate have been treated to significant issues items such as “Pocket vs Rogue presidency”; “Ghost Projects vs Unfulfilled Promises”; “Reinventing the Wheel vs Ploughs already in the field”; Self-pinpointed deprecating wrongs vs Unearthing real or imaginary wrongdoings”; “Mending Fences vs Alienating base elements”; “Raising Hope vs Hoping against Hope”; “Rejected Stones vs Disheartened stones”; “Absent comeback message vs Reiterating wishful message”; “Comparable Past vs Present performance records” and “Way forward Progression vs Regression”. Following is an elaboration on these various issues items to demonstrate why they would factor as underscoring elements in the process of making informed choices by the electorate in elections 2020.

Pocket vs Rogue Presidency
3. Without necessarily judgmental, mainly spectators and not citizens who are not appalled that the president is supposedly in the pocket of someone. Whether an exaggeration of inflated lobbying tactical claim, the optics of such an utterance is bad for integrity, transparency and accountability in the stewardship of a nation’s affairs. Regardless of how hard the rented pundits may want to spin away the import of such an utterance, and whether they succeed or not, the image of a “pocketed” presidency would likely remain an indelible reference guide in shaping the informed choices of the electorate.

4. In a related vein, the esteemed personality who seemingly is becoming a fait accompli flagbearer of the major opposition party has been castigated as a “rogue who presided over corruption” during his tenure at the helm of affairs of the nation. Although a retraction and an apology rendered by the source of such an utterance, the imprint would seem irremovable as the descriptor tends to reinforce opponent’s characterization – whether real or imagined - of the would-be flagbearer. Assuming all things proceed as it seems so far, the electorate informed decision-making process would likely be engraved with the choice between a pocket or rogue presidency – whichever is good for mother Ghana, only heaven knows.

Ghost Projects vs Unfulfilled Promises
5. The current occupant of the seat of government has made repeated reference to the much-touted infrastructure investments of his predecessor as “ghost projects” because they are supposedly non-existent and invincible. While the characterization was pejoratively countered in the first instance as below the belt campaign talk and that he must have been sleeping in the car during the tour of the areas, the line of branding has not changed even after assuming the helms of affairs. This time though the utterance has received sharp rebuttal with an exhaustive list of all the projects undertaken in the region of reference from the office of the predecessor target. Are the projects really non-existent? Why are they difficult to be seen and credited? Or is it an attempt to bury the obvious in empty rhetoric and throw dust in the eyes of the public? In fact, real infrastructure edifices cannot be hidden from human sight. It is befallen on the electorate to verify the veracity of both sides with concrete evidence for informed choices and give credit where is due.

6. The score card of the ruling regime so far has revealed a list of unfulfilled promises which the opponents are quick to trumpet without hesitation. Among the list include: the Ghana Card debacle, One District One Million Dollars; One District One Factory; One Village One Dam mantra; One Region, One Industrial Park etc … Objectively it seems too early in the term of tenure for some of these promises to translate into fruition. Yet given the assured manner in which they were promised, one cannot begrudge the impatience of the critics, and will expect the electorate to take into consideration if the promises turn out to be hollow.

Reinventing the Wheel vis-a-vis the Ploughs already in the field

7. There have been accusations from various quarters that the ruling regime is reinventing the wheel with some of its flagship investment undertakings. One such example is the ongoing saga of the Kelni GVG contract awarded by the government for design, development and implementation of a common platform for traffic monitoring, revenue assurance, and mobile money monitoring and fraud management. To the critics, this contract is needless and frivolous as the service is already being rendered by Afriwave and Subah Info Solution. It is also on record that the over 11 million cards issued by the previous regime with corresponding database have been thrashed under the new Ghana Card specifications and requirements. Another case of the ploughs already in the field are observations that most of the job creation policies adopted by the government are ad-hoc, piece meal, short term measures which have been tried and tested in the past, and government must proceed from such old policies to create the needed jobs.

8. These are just few examples. As a matter of fact, transformation of a nation is attainable with such a trajectory of one step forward, two steps backwards. Why is it so difficult to build on what already is in existence? Are we our own nemesis of progress especially when protecting the public purse is a proclaimed priority? The slash, burn and start over method is a tremendous source of colossal financial loss and a convenient conduit of self-aggrandizement. it is important for the electorate to question this leadership mentality and approach, abhor wasteful public expenditure practices, and allow real value for money consciousness to inform choices.

Self-pinpointed wrongs vs Unearthing past real and imaginary wrongs

9. The political scene is becoming inundated with innuendoes of affiliate accusations and parallel efforts to unearth similar happenings and occurrences in the past with the surreptitious intention to blot and diminish any significance and impact of the supposed deed presently. Several cries of foul play and insults have been hurled at major actors of the ruling regime by party affiliates. Alleged rot at BOST, Extortions for access to the Office of the President, NCA aspersions are few examples in this instance. Equally significant are the double salaries saga on the neck of some former Ministers and MPs, accusations of inflating the KIA Terminal 3 contract under the previous regime, the alleged rots unearthed at SSNIT and COCOBOD under the past CEOs. The list of such perceptively implied infractions on either side seems quite long which may not have been envisaged in the creation of the office of the Special Prosecutor and swearing-in of the substantive occupants of the positions. Is this a moment of two sides of the same coin or witnessing more of the same? Assuming there are elements of truth in the allegations, wisdom dictates that two wrongs do not make a right. It would require the electorate to be more discerning in shaping opinions and choices.

Mending Fences vs Alienating Base elements
10. In a bid for a strong comeback, the presumptive flagbearer of the largest opposition party is thought to be mending fences gradually through multiple means including the much-publicized unity walks, appearances at major events, proactive hands-on amplifications of the shortcomings of the ruling regime etc. Although his challengers and detractors consider many of the moves as self-serving and not geared at genuine unity particularly bringing the elders of the party on board, many observers believe the massive grassroots members of his party are being evidently energized, motivated and enthused about a robust comeback. From such happenings, it is perceptively conceivable that hopes are being raised among the fervent follower base.

11. Meanwhile, through its actions, inactions and omissions, it is emerging with evidence that the ruling party is gradually alienating elements of the core coalitions which rally around to propel it to power. From the lawlessness attributes of its affiliated vigilante groups in some regions of the country, to the outbursts of disenchanted supposedly foot soldiers, and somewhat disgruntled frontline leaders, evidence is mounting amply that core elements of the grassroots are increasingly becoming frustrated and alienated. At this stage of the journey, it is not far-fetched that the ardent believers of the cause especially at the grassroots in this regard are clinging to hope with expectations that better things would turn around sooner than later. if this is the new norm forward, the electorate would not lose sight of such trends in calculations for informed choices during elections 2020.

Rejected vs Disheartened Stones
12. Objectively at this point, it would be hasty and misleading to have any definite pronouncement or projections. The emerging image however is that the stone which the electorate rejected some months ago is being remolded and rehabilitated to become the cornerstone of a robust comeback. Whereas the builders at the current work site are increasingly becoming disheartened with the chosen design and pathway given the slow grind of the promised dividends of change. Yet the comeback trail so far is also devoid and absent of any new message of why things would be different the next time when given the nod. And as if by design, all that kept harping in the ears of the electorate is persistent reiteration of the same old wishful messages from those currently at the helm of affairs. What kind of results are expected if things continue as usual. The electorate is exhorted and urged to take notice in formulating informed choices going forward.

Comparable Performance record, Progression or Regression

13. The good news for the electorate is that the dominant protagonists of both parties would have recent performance records to compare for informed decisions and choices. At the grassroots, it would mainly boil down to bread and butter, kitchen table calculations for answers to the following quintessential questions: As citizens (and not spectators), is the nation better off under regime A or B and has this translated into an improved condition of life at the individual, organizational and societal levels? Is the nation on the path of upward progression and not zig-zag downward spiral regression? These are loaded questions and the electorate would require evidence-based insights to have conclusive answers and provide appropriate verdicts.

14. The Ghana Electorate Checklist project is aimed at providing such needed assistance for informed choices in elections 2020 and beyond. The Checklist consists of periodic expert briefs, opinions, and comments on daily utterances, occurrences, happenings, practices and performance at the Ghana political landscape. Contributing experts are individuals with very deep background experiences, and keen observers of the governance situation in Ghana.

The writer is an International Development Expert and Managing Director of the Ghana Electorate Checklist (GEC) project. He can be reached at: [email protected]