DO NOT RENEGE ON YOUR CIVIC DUTY, COME OUT TO VOTE TO SAVE GHANA.

 

There is a common expression in our political parlance that “election has consequences”. This statement summarily explains the expectations of people from politicians and or the government elected. The expectations may be met, partly met and not met at all. The subjective feeling of the people as well as public perception are key in influencing the decisions of people in subsequent decisions. People may hold their opinions based on core objective parameters or based on their political ideologies or leanings. The regular floating voter, however, assesses their living conditions, their welfare, interest and security before making a choice. Roy T. Bennett asserts that “every choice comes with consequence. Once you make a choice, you must accept responsibility. You cannot escape the consequences of your choices, whether you like it or not.” Our African society has a plethora of proverbs elucidating this better. For instance, our elders say that “he who fetches ant infested firewood should get ready for the reptilian groove.”

Over the past eight years, Ghanaians have been lamenting on escalating economic hardships. Some murmur in disappointment while others voiced their grievances against those who were given the mandate to improve upon their welfare and conditions. Some others praised the government largely on ideological alignment and party affiliation. What remains incontrovertible however is the hardship and increasing cost of living conditions in the country. Even the praise singers admit that we are in an economic quagmire never experienced under our fourth republican democratic dispensation.

In the 2020 general elections, citizens took decisions based on what they had experienced. Arguably, the will of the people was subverted by incumbency abuse as people were denied their voting rights, others killed by state security before declaring results coupled by the bizarre posturing of the Electoral body declaring varying multiple results. Families of those who were shot and killed have not had justice. The accumulations of all these acts of insensitivity and abuse of power in addition to the hostile economic conditions, corruption and the lack of priority of the ruling government has presented another precarious but unique political environment. Will the wanton disappointment reflect in the election outcome of the 2024 December polls? Will the citizenry endorse the ruling government, licensing them to continue to aggravate their suffering even as government officials live in opulence? These and many others linger in the minds of many discerning citizens.

 

Whereas we demand transparency by the Electoral Commission which is largely perceived as an appendage of the ruling government, citizens must not renege on their civic responsibility to vote on the bases of the apparent bias of the electoral body demonstrated in the past. I say this because many people are becoming apathetic towards voting, saying that their vote may not be protected and or counted. These are indisputable germane concerns, but we must rise to defend the 1992 constitution and our democracy. We must have a democracy where institutions created by the constitution live up to their mandate with fairness.

We cannot sit aloof and expect a change. I encourage citizens to come out to vote for a change. The present economic mess requires rejuvenated energy, ideas, innovations and above all experience. There is a loss of focus by this current government. It appears they are in a talking competition and only thinks about remaining in power to continue to create a classical society with widening inequalities between those in power and the ordinary citizen who is deliberately starved, suffocating with escalating commodity price, discrimination. While they enjoy the political largesse, our country has become an international ridicule as it continues to beg around the globe with a choking debt unprecedented debt level, owing to our inability to meet our debt obligations. The burden of incompetence the government is being shifted daily to the ordinary struggling Ghanaian. No wonder, the pensioners are those who have had to face the brunt of the incompetence and wickedness through an insensitive policy described as domestic debt restructuring. Such insensitivity has never been witnessed in our political history. Many of our fathers and grandfathers out of the unbearable living conditions birthed by this government through the unpopular policy “Haircut” have sent to the grave. This because some could not afford their drugs. This act of indirect killings must not be rewarded. May the souls of all those killed, protect the sanctity of our votes in this year’s polls.

The NPP made so much noise about borrowing. Indeed, then Vice Presidential Candidate Bawumia who ranted like a singing bird asserted that Ghana do not need to borrow because it is rich and that the NPP government would not borrow. The NDC government was heavily lambasted for borrowing to invest into critical sectors of the economy with buffers built to repay our debts. In fact, between 1957 and 2016 our debt stood at 122 billion. The economy then met all its debt obligations. What is the situation today?

Ghana’s total debt according to the finance minister currently stands at a gargantuan 742 billion cedis. It means that in just 8 years, the NPP has added 620 billion cedis to Ghana’s debt.

It’s not like they have invested these monies wisely into things that has brought or will bring transformation to Ghanaians. Some of the monies are allegedly under their beds. You must also be reminded about the following facts.

·       Remember, 52 billion cedis in 2020 went missing

·       Bank of Ghana made a loss of 60 billion cedis

·       Over 58 million dollars has gone into Akufo Addo’s Cathedral

·       They claim to have used 2.9 billion on Planting for food and jobs yet food inflation remains unprecedented. A bowl of maize is 30.00 cedis in my vicinity.

·       Ghana has been defaulting on its debt

·       The exchange rate is at a record high of 16 cedis to a dollar

·       Unemployment is at a record high of 14.7%

·       Ghana’s Economy has been downgraded to junk status

·       Inflation is at a record high

·       Fuel price is at a record high with 1 gallon going for 70 cedis.

 

The above, sad narrative is the scorecard of the NPP government under Nana Akufo Addo and Dr Bawumia. They brag so much, waxed much of a rhetoric but they really plundered this nation leaving us in hopelessness and abject poverty. Their dismissive posturing and annoying lame equalization present a worse future should we allow them to remain in power. We need experienced people, people with rejuvenated energy and innovative ideas to salvage this country from a total collapse. We need a change!!

 

The current NPP and its politicomedic leader, Dr Bawumia known for his lies and politics without principles do not deserve our mandate anymore. They must stay away from the seat of the presidency and subject themselves to proper accountability. The stolen monies must be retrieved, the image of Ghana must be elevated again among the comity of nations and Ghana must see its glory days again. the man who has been proven to be a man of integrity, credibility and experience to take Ghana out of the days of shame is John Dramani Mahama. He is a nation builder, and time has vindicated his vision for this nation.

In the love of country, let us not compromise our conscience for a penny, let us not choose tribe over nation building, let us not give up in the struggle to see a new Ghana with national unity, hope and vision. We must also safe our family values and culture. The current government refused to help Ghanaians wage a war against same sex marriage in Ghana because of their selfish unrepentant quest to enrich themselves to the detriment of national interest.

May God save our nation and make us strong and proud again.

Denis Andaban

denisandaban@gmail.com

Nadowli, Upper West Region.