DON'T VOTE FOR CANDIDATES WHO WORRY YOU WITH BEAUTIFUL PICTURES AND MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGES.

Leadership is obviously a necessity in every human endeavor. Leadership maintains harmony, team spirit as well as guard the general vision of society. Indeed, every society has certain aspirations that can catapult its people into progress and prosperity. It is undebatable to postulate that good leadership is a catalyst to development where as bad leadership slows down progress and development. I am sure all of us know the immeasurable role of leadership in any group, organization or country.

Considering, the essence of this, it is only good that leadership is part of our learning process. Indeed right from primary school to the University, students are given the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights to enable them internalize and appreciate the democratic principles. By this, students elect their leaders they think they have the required competencies to offer them credible and effective leadership. As to whether those elected are able to deliver to the expectation of the vast majority, is yet another subject matter probably to be looked at in some other write up.

We have gotten to an interesting period of politicking in our institution, University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi campus. This campus though not that large, comparing it to some other Universities like KNUST, elections are notoriously competitive, exhaustive, costly and sometimes divisive. Those who have monitored elections here for the past three years may agree with me. Being a student politician myself, I always say without shame that politics is not for the softhearted hear.

The competition is not devoid of competitive ideas too. In fact, the 2016/2017 academic year witnessed  very competitive ideas, considering the calibre of candidates at the time. The likes of the incumbent president, Joseph Tuffour, Franco, Seyram, Bright and others were known to be on top of issues. The "image campaign", I mean a situation where people paint their lips, wear new suits, new pair of shoes, take beautiful photographs and begin to share them to people without any effort to explain their policies, was highly minimal. You may disagree.

This year, I am beginning to see something interesting. At the time that the Competent Electoral Commission has  brought some improvement by banning the printing of posters and limiting candidates to designing few banners, most of the potential candidates or candidates are sitting comfortably in their rooms and sending us beautiful images and very ridiculous cum unusual motivational messages. Are you motivational speakers? What at all are you motivating us on?

It is erroneous to think that your beautiful images can earn you any votes this year. If you want, buy your best suits, get the best designer to paint your face, without viable policies and show of competence, students won't vote for you. Yes, students won't vote for you because of how beautiful or handsome you are!!!!

What many of the candidates fail to know is that, they burden students by shifting their campaign cost to them(the electorates). Giving me same picture which people may continue to download gives them(the student populace) needless cost. May be it is because we don't quantify the cost involve in buying data and downloading such "artificial looks."

I want to promise candidates particularly those who sit at the comfort of their rooms to disturb me with unusual messages and images, that I won't give them my vote. I urge the entire student body too not to vote for such candidates!! What we shall consider in our choice is the credibility, practicability and viability of  policies. Get to the people and explain your vision and policies and stop the "empty cacophony".

I came across a gentleman, cutely dressed. He approached me, introduced himself as one of the candidates. In fact, he had nothing to tell me either than " I need your support and advice." I asked "would you consider my advice should I ask you to step aside and allow others to contest?" He stood laughing like a comedian and I had to excuse him to leave.

The point I want to drum home is that, candidates must know what they are doing and not appear naive awaiting a certain political "scaffolding" from we the electorates. That won't get you any sympathy votes.

I am warning again that no candidate should bore me with those nauseating motivational messages and cute photographs. Enough of that!!!
Let's be on top of the game. You need to respect we the electorates.


Denis Andaban
denisandaban@gmail.com