To: okyeame@googlegroups.com
0830hrs, Wednesday January 7, 2009
Taking Discourse to the Next and Right Level
Greetings..
If you are an insider, you must realise the difference between the political platform and the actual art of governance.
Those of us on the sidelines only see those we know well..the rest of the people we see by their names only even if we have never met them or interacted with them directly. What this means is that the impressions or perceptions we carry of people we either encounter or get to hear about can be lasting but may be either manifestly correct, partly correct or manifestly wrong when you dig into it.
Today as we turn the scales on the administration of president JAK and welcome president JAM, we need all the lackeys and insiders to begin to bring the prospect of decorum into their utterances. it is very different when you are a Joe Somebody in the street, but when you assume the reins of government, you must change your language.
If we remember the kind of hard words that Agya Atta used on the campaign trail, we should not accept him as President.. but that was the campaign floor... it is just like Agbenaaaaa, they wont come in today or tomorrow etc... it all adds to the beauty and the temperament of the campaign. Watch the MPs, they insult themselves but actually work together more than cordially in Committees and in the House etc.
It is for this reason that I think our newly rejuvenated hot mouths have to begin to change the tone that they bring into the Okyeame Space. Same to all the NPP diehards in this space..Tone down.!!!!.
We may be meaning no harm with our words, but our lackeys in the street see it as their ticket and signal to misbehave. look at how even some landlords are evicting their tenants from different party persuasions... what kind of mind-set is that? we have to move on as a country.
We must now begin the process of vigourously defending or critiquing Government actions and policies.. we must also, based on new data to be brought out by the new administration, review the performance info of the JAK administration. all these would form part of the mixed grill of Okyeame over the next few years.. in addition to stories about Obaa Rose's kitchen and the Akropong city toli etc.
The next 100 days will most definitely be critical as we welcome Agya Atta into the Presidency. The media landscape must be very vibrant - as vibrant as it has been but more robust, balanced, more enquiring than ever, more or better analytical and focused from a better learned position with respect to the different subjects/issues. We need to steer away from conjecture, stick to facts and opinions based on reason and analysis.
We must now raise Okyeame to a new level - avoid Pull-Him-Down-isms, celebrate the breath and span of diversity of our forum members. Let's make Okyeame attractive, in fact so attractive that we shall enjoy the paradigm of relevance of wisdom matched with knowledge.
Good Morning
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Now the Day is Over and Four Years is Drawing Nigh
1810hrs Saturday January 3, 2009
A new Era begins for a new Administration
As you can see from the corrupted first line of the famous hymn, the title of this message indicates that Ghana has actually crossed the precipice that was looming over our political journey and we actually crossed it without having to dig a tunnel through the mountains. We did not need to look out for any ambush along the path and believe me, the glory that Ghana has brought upon herself has in turn brought in its wake, peace and tranquility that passeth all political understanding.
This day, the EC under the leadership of Opanin Afari-Djan came out to say that I listened to both sides when they were squabbling, I continued doing my work whilst my scientists were using their oscilloscopes and titration burettes, I watched the people of Tain dance their way, even if half-heartedly, to the polling stations yesterday, then I stayed up till late, whilst my boys used the good facilities of the Nsawkaw church hall to count the ballots fiili-fiili.
Afari-Djan continuing said - This morning I woke up to my usual red-red breakfast and some nice hot okro-soup desert and I say unto thee, verilly verily it has come to pass. everything the schoolboys brought before me is typical school boy antics.. I wont change the report cards so as for me I want to tell all parents that Agya Atta was first and Nana was second. they have all done well, they have run a good and nice race, but it is my duty to name Agya Atta as House Prefect for the next four years. Thank you. everybody go home.
I shall now return to Eno's kitchen to eat my well deserved Jollof Rice with grilled guinea fowl, and my nice small calabash of home brewed pito.
Thus ended the saga of the EC side of Election 2008. and the beginning of the reaction side of Ghanaians and the political parties to Election 2008 Round Two.
The crowds have started milling in town. Earlier this afternoon, I saw this yellow Hummer convertible with an NDC umbrella the size of a single room with chamber on the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange. the trucks and the cars and the motorbikes and the bicycles and the boys with roller skates all over from teshie, Nungua, Tema, Ashaiman, all the way through Independence Avenue to Osu. It looks like the people are more than ecstatic with Agya Atta's victory.
It is absolutely beautiful that Nana has come out to congratulate Agya Atta this afternoon. But it looks like, there is a possibility that NPP might persue this election through the courts, as provided for in law. I do hope that this would not spur the NPP supporters to take the law into their own hands, nor lead either side's foot soldiers from engaging in political scuffles of any kind.
I am all for the scenario that people will recognise that we have one country and that the taunting and bickering - no matter how passionate or dispassionate - would be seen to have ended once the election is over until the next parliamentay and legislative political season begins in approximately 2011 or 2012 according to, or depending on, their party constitutions.
As far as I am concerned, the real work now begins on Wednesday with the need and obligation of NDC keeping faith with the people of Ghana, via the implementation of the NDC manifesto, the continuation of critical and ongoing national programmes and projects etc. I do hope that the NDC, as promised by Agya Atta, does not come out with any agenda of political vindictiveness and ensures that its apparatchiks don't even think about same.. People are ready to hold NDC (and all political parties) to their word. The Ghanaian political landscape has been changed with this election.
I am sure the NDC has now dusted off their plans and activated their transition team. This afternoon, I heard names that have been lost for the past eight years on the Ghanaian political landscape. I do hope they are there to work not simply think that their time has come.
It is not what you do, how well you do alone that would make us come out to give our thumbprints to you but it is the message, how well you present it, how well your message is perceived alongside your punch.. remember the Barry White song - how well we perceive you to be practicing what you preach. It certainly is a tall order - so no one should take the Good People of Ghana for granted at all. Our political maturity is now moving towards the level of the unequalled. Moderation, selflessness, national duty, patriotism, Ghana-first, me second should be the order of the day for the NDC and all political parties. I trust that they will all live up to expectation.
I take this opportunity and for the first time in this blog to send out my personal congratulations to President Kufour for the leadership in bringing serious infrastructural and governance related programmes and projects to bear on this country. We certainly have come very far since 2000 and the evidence is manifested throughout the country.
It is equally gratifying that President Kufuor not only provided the assurance of seeing a smooth change-over on wednesday January 7, 2009, but also expressed his personal willingness to abide by the constitutional provision of a two-term maximum presidency. Ayekoo, your Excellency. we trust that you will now enjoy your retirement as a former Head of State.
I do also hope that now that Ghana is finally to be blessed with two former Heads of State, Agya Atta will find time in his prospective tight schedule to convene a wisdom and knowledge sharing session with the Two Johns before the next John, Uncle Jerry and Wofa Agyekum, as soon as possible.. what a benefit, this nation stands to gain from them.
Ghana is indeed blessed with Johns at the helm of affairs.. Perhaps, we all should change our names or simply add a John to our names.
John Evans Atta Mills - Welcome to the seat of state. Nana Akufo-Addo, Thank you for your contribution to our political dispensation.
May God Bless our Homeland Ghana and make it great and strong, and turn it into the cynosure of all Africa and a beacon of hope that IT CAN BE DONE..
Good Evening
Bla Elik
A new Era begins for a new Administration
As you can see from the corrupted first line of the famous hymn, the title of this message indicates that Ghana has actually crossed the precipice that was looming over our political journey and we actually crossed it without having to dig a tunnel through the mountains. We did not need to look out for any ambush along the path and believe me, the glory that Ghana has brought upon herself has in turn brought in its wake, peace and tranquility that passeth all political understanding.
This day, the EC under the leadership of Opanin Afari-Djan came out to say that I listened to both sides when they were squabbling, I continued doing my work whilst my scientists were using their oscilloscopes and titration burettes, I watched the people of Tain dance their way, even if half-heartedly, to the polling stations yesterday, then I stayed up till late, whilst my boys used the good facilities of the Nsawkaw church hall to count the ballots fiili-fiili.
Afari-Djan continuing said - This morning I woke up to my usual red-red breakfast and some nice hot okro-soup desert and I say unto thee, verilly verily it has come to pass. everything the schoolboys brought before me is typical school boy antics.. I wont change the report cards so as for me I want to tell all parents that Agya Atta was first and Nana was second. they have all done well, they have run a good and nice race, but it is my duty to name Agya Atta as House Prefect for the next four years. Thank you. everybody go home.
I shall now return to Eno's kitchen to eat my well deserved Jollof Rice with grilled guinea fowl, and my nice small calabash of home brewed pito.
Thus ended the saga of the EC side of Election 2008. and the beginning of the reaction side of Ghanaians and the political parties to Election 2008 Round Two.
The crowds have started milling in town. Earlier this afternoon, I saw this yellow Hummer convertible with an NDC umbrella the size of a single room with chamber on the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange. the trucks and the cars and the motorbikes and the bicycles and the boys with roller skates all over from teshie, Nungua, Tema, Ashaiman, all the way through Independence Avenue to Osu. It looks like the people are more than ecstatic with Agya Atta's victory.
It is absolutely beautiful that Nana has come out to congratulate Agya Atta this afternoon. But it looks like, there is a possibility that NPP might persue this election through the courts, as provided for in law. I do hope that this would not spur the NPP supporters to take the law into their own hands, nor lead either side's foot soldiers from engaging in political scuffles of any kind.
I am all for the scenario that people will recognise that we have one country and that the taunting and bickering - no matter how passionate or dispassionate - would be seen to have ended once the election is over until the next parliamentay and legislative political season begins in approximately 2011 or 2012 according to, or depending on, their party constitutions.
As far as I am concerned, the real work now begins on Wednesday with the need and obligation of NDC keeping faith with the people of Ghana, via the implementation of the NDC manifesto, the continuation of critical and ongoing national programmes and projects etc. I do hope that the NDC, as promised by Agya Atta, does not come out with any agenda of political vindictiveness and ensures that its apparatchiks don't even think about same.. People are ready to hold NDC (and all political parties) to their word. The Ghanaian political landscape has been changed with this election.
I am sure the NDC has now dusted off their plans and activated their transition team. This afternoon, I heard names that have been lost for the past eight years on the Ghanaian political landscape. I do hope they are there to work not simply think that their time has come.
It is not what you do, how well you do alone that would make us come out to give our thumbprints to you but it is the message, how well you present it, how well your message is perceived alongside your punch.. remember the Barry White song - how well we perceive you to be practicing what you preach. It certainly is a tall order - so no one should take the Good People of Ghana for granted at all. Our political maturity is now moving towards the level of the unequalled. Moderation, selflessness, national duty, patriotism, Ghana-first, me second should be the order of the day for the NDC and all political parties. I trust that they will all live up to expectation.
I take this opportunity and for the first time in this blog to send out my personal congratulations to President Kufour for the leadership in bringing serious infrastructural and governance related programmes and projects to bear on this country. We certainly have come very far since 2000 and the evidence is manifested throughout the country.
It is equally gratifying that President Kufuor not only provided the assurance of seeing a smooth change-over on wednesday January 7, 2009, but also expressed his personal willingness to abide by the constitutional provision of a two-term maximum presidency. Ayekoo, your Excellency. we trust that you will now enjoy your retirement as a former Head of State.
I do also hope that now that Ghana is finally to be blessed with two former Heads of State, Agya Atta will find time in his prospective tight schedule to convene a wisdom and knowledge sharing session with the Two Johns before the next John, Uncle Jerry and Wofa Agyekum, as soon as possible.. what a benefit, this nation stands to gain from them.
Ghana is indeed blessed with Johns at the helm of affairs.. Perhaps, we all should change our names or simply add a John to our names.
John Evans Atta Mills - Welcome to the seat of state. Nana Akufo-Addo, Thank you for your contribution to our political dispensation.
May God Bless our Homeland Ghana and make it great and strong, and turn it into the cynosure of all Africa and a beacon of hope that IT CAN BE DONE..
Good Evening
Bla Elik
We have entered the Osu Curve
To: okyeame@googlegroups.com
0854hrs Saturday January 3, 2009
The last bend on the Race Course looms ahead of us
This day, would also mark yet another watershed in this nail-biting marathon of an election. Tain, the 230th constituency) has been held. NDC got almost 90% of the valid votes cast. the turnout was less than 50% of the 53000 registered voter list. To win, NPP needed 23,055 PLUS 50% PLUS 1 of the remaining valid votes cast in the Tain ballot. The EC had earlier declared that he had certified 229 out of 230. Both NDC and (now) NPP have presented information to the EC as their evidence of some irregularities on Dec 28th in Ashanti and Volta Region respectively.
In the meantime, NPP has confirmed that they have withdrawn their legal suits and trust that the EC would look at the evidence they have provided. NPP has also stated that they expect the EC to look at both their claims and those of the NDC equally and take both issues into consideration before he makes any announcements. Likewise, NDC.
The EC, it has been said, intends to make an announcement at 1100hrs or thereabouts today on the election, and more than certainly, on the winner. or would he tell Ghanaians that for x and y reason, I have decided as follows.. bla bla bla......Dr Afari-Djan and his team of commissioners have always in all the elections held in Ghana since long, always pulled a super card at interpreting the electoral laws.. not bad for a person(s) who live that law all the time and for all these years!!
So at this stage, the big ticket question is how long will it take the EC to investigate the claims of the two parties?, would the claims impact on the numbers declared by the EC on the 30th of December? Did the EC declare or did he provisionally give the figures for the 229 constituencies? If the EC does not finish its work before 10:00am on January 7th, would the new Speaker be the one to take over? would the EC announce his final results today or tomorrow and let the parties sort themselves out in court afterwards?
Looking forward to 7th January, would there be a consensus or would there be difficulty appointing/electing the Speaker for the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic given the numbers in the House.. ? Have the two parties set aside a backroom team insulated from the presidential elections to haggle out the issues relating to the election of the leadership of the new House - the Speaker, 1st & 2nd Deputy Speakers, Chairpersons of the various select committees?. Are they also working on which MP will sit where in the new House?
It is very easy for us to forget that in the melee of presidential action, parliament is working and the new one will be expected to begin registration on Monday January 5 so they can be seated on Wednesday January 7, 2009
In the meantime, I believe President Kufuor will deliver his valedictory Address to the House on Tuesday January 6th to the outgoing Parliament. This would probably be one of the tear-popping moments of this political era, where many stalwarts will appear for the last time before the House sitting on one side of the House.
The few MPs who will return from NPP will have to shift to the minority side, and the retained ones from NDC will shift to the majority side. Many many experienced NPP MPs either did not contest, or lost their seats either at their party primaries or during the Dec 7th polls. Likewise, many new (some of them strong) faces will also add a puff of fresh breath into Parliament on both sides of the political divide.
Another day of interest, this shall be!!
Bla Elik
0854hrs Saturday January 3, 2009
The last bend on the Race Course looms ahead of us
This day, would also mark yet another watershed in this nail-biting marathon of an election. Tain, the 230th constituency) has been held. NDC got almost 90% of the valid votes cast. the turnout was less than 50% of the 53000 registered voter list. To win, NPP needed 23,055 PLUS 50% PLUS 1 of the remaining valid votes cast in the Tain ballot. The EC had earlier declared that he had certified 229 out of 230. Both NDC and (now) NPP have presented information to the EC as their evidence of some irregularities on Dec 28th in Ashanti and Volta Region respectively.
In the meantime, NPP has confirmed that they have withdrawn their legal suits and trust that the EC would look at the evidence they have provided. NPP has also stated that they expect the EC to look at both their claims and those of the NDC equally and take both issues into consideration before he makes any announcements. Likewise, NDC.
The EC, it has been said, intends to make an announcement at 1100hrs or thereabouts today on the election, and more than certainly, on the winner. or would he tell Ghanaians that for x and y reason, I have decided as follows.. bla bla bla......Dr Afari-Djan and his team of commissioners have always in all the elections held in Ghana since long, always pulled a super card at interpreting the electoral laws.. not bad for a person(s) who live that law all the time and for all these years!!
So at this stage, the big ticket question is how long will it take the EC to investigate the claims of the two parties?, would the claims impact on the numbers declared by the EC on the 30th of December? Did the EC declare or did he provisionally give the figures for the 229 constituencies? If the EC does not finish its work before 10:00am on January 7th, would the new Speaker be the one to take over? would the EC announce his final results today or tomorrow and let the parties sort themselves out in court afterwards?
Looking forward to 7th January, would there be a consensus or would there be difficulty appointing/electing the Speaker for the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic given the numbers in the House.. ? Have the two parties set aside a backroom team insulated from the presidential elections to haggle out the issues relating to the election of the leadership of the new House - the Speaker, 1st & 2nd Deputy Speakers, Chairpersons of the various select committees?. Are they also working on which MP will sit where in the new House?
It is very easy for us to forget that in the melee of presidential action, parliament is working and the new one will be expected to begin registration on Monday January 5 so they can be seated on Wednesday January 7, 2009
In the meantime, I believe President Kufuor will deliver his valedictory Address to the House on Tuesday January 6th to the outgoing Parliament. This would probably be one of the tear-popping moments of this political era, where many stalwarts will appear for the last time before the House sitting on one side of the House.
The few MPs who will return from NPP will have to shift to the minority side, and the retained ones from NDC will shift to the majority side. Many many experienced NPP MPs either did not contest, or lost their seats either at their party primaries or during the Dec 7th polls. Likewise, many new (some of them strong) faces will also add a puff of fresh breath into Parliament on both sides of the political divide.
Another day of interest, this shall be!!
Bla Elik
Friday, January 2, 2009
TAIN wakes up to action
0844hrs Friday January 2, 2009
The People of Tain at the Eye of the Storm
It has been reported and confirmed with live TV reports that NPP has not deployed any polling agents nor participated in the facilitation of ballot paper movements in the Tain constituency this morning
Last night too, Arthur Kennedy was on the airwaves saying the party will be boycotting the ballot because the Court effectively said so. How he or the party interpreted the Justice's actions as such beats my mind. Why they will lose such an opportunity to bridge the gap they so dearly need to come up tops beats my mind as well. In the meantime, NDC is working hard to finish the race kwatakwata with our without NPP.
I think doing what they have done ( if it a party decision) even limits the breath of opportunity that the NPP has, if there is one at all. It's a most unfortunate decision for a party that is struggling to come up on top under the circumstances . Whoever took that step to the street has done a great disservice to the party. Of course, when a person goes to the polling station to vote, no one will ask him/her which party they belong to. I want to look at it from another angle, that it is, maybe it was the local party boys that have chosen not to go to the polling stations today in which case the party hierarchy must have stepped in to call them to order. But I doubt the local boys can take such a momentous decision on such a critical matter at such a watershed time in such a nail-biting election.
Look, for a party that needs 23,055 PLUS ONE MORE VOTE than Mills will get out of the remaining valid votes cast. (Nana needs 23,055 + [(50% +1) of the valid votes to be cast today] to be declared the winner ) This is not a good story to write home about. What they have done reminds me of a person who wants to get into a university and decides that they will wait for their results before they fill the application.. it will be late by that time. You only get a chance if you have a leg in the door with a pre-completed application. someone in NPP backrooms is not advising well. They are losing some sympathisers along the way with all the uncertainty as to options and strategy and unpredictability of actions. My concern is that if it is a decision of the party, then they are not helping their party supporters in Tain to exercise their franchise.
in any case, if the people see themselves as individuals, they can exercise their franchise. I do hope that someone will not come up later today and say that they don't recognise the ballot in Tain.
questions: can we say that the EC has been restrained by any court order? can NPP say that they have served the EC with a court-approved (restraining) order? is the EC right in conducting today's poll in Tain? has the NPP made a mistake with their non-participation action of today? would Tain plebians be angry with NPP and give less votes to NPP today?
what other steps are NPP likely to take in the aftermath of Tain? How remote is the possibility that Pres Kufour would not have a successor named by 0700hrs January 7th? many questions abound on my mind.
in the meantime, whilst we are brooding over the questions, the EC has said that it is not by force for parties/candidates to have an agent at the polling stations and the collation centres, but an option they have put in place to deepen participation in the process.. so they have gone ahead to carry out the exercise in Tain.
Like I said yesterday, 1700hrs today will be the most sought after time on our clock. until then, my ears are glued to the radio and my eyes on the TV..
whew!!! this day is truly unfolding. Today, I am wringing my fingers because my finger and toe nails are all finished.
Do we have a political stalemate? This is one election that will get the political historians enough fodder to analyse for many years to come. whatever you can add, add and let the debate go on!!
Another Friday in Ghana has just started and the EC has a big task. Would he accept the challenge? I sincerely hope so.
Good morning
Bla Elik
The People of Tain at the Eye of the Storm
It has been reported and confirmed with live TV reports that NPP has not deployed any polling agents nor participated in the facilitation of ballot paper movements in the Tain constituency this morning
Last night too, Arthur Kennedy was on the airwaves saying the party will be boycotting the ballot because the Court effectively said so. How he or the party interpreted the Justice's actions as such beats my mind. Why they will lose such an opportunity to bridge the gap they so dearly need to come up tops beats my mind as well. In the meantime, NDC is working hard to finish the race kwatakwata with our without NPP.
I think doing what they have done ( if it a party decision) even limits the breath of opportunity that the NPP has, if there is one at all. It's a most unfortunate decision for a party that is struggling to come up on top under the circumstances . Whoever took that step to the street has done a great disservice to the party. Of course, when a person goes to the polling station to vote, no one will ask him/her which party they belong to. I want to look at it from another angle, that it is, maybe it was the local party boys that have chosen not to go to the polling stations today in which case the party hierarchy must have stepped in to call them to order. But I doubt the local boys can take such a momentous decision on such a critical matter at such a watershed time in such a nail-biting election.
Look, for a party that needs 23,055 PLUS ONE MORE VOTE than Mills will get out of the remaining valid votes cast. (Nana needs 23,055 + [(50% +1) of the valid votes to be cast today] to be declared the winner ) This is not a good story to write home about. What they have done reminds me of a person who wants to get into a university and decides that they will wait for their results before they fill the application.. it will be late by that time. You only get a chance if you have a leg in the door with a pre-completed application. someone in NPP backrooms is not advising well. They are losing some sympathisers along the way with all the uncertainty as to options and strategy and unpredictability of actions. My concern is that if it is a decision of the party, then they are not helping their party supporters in Tain to exercise their franchise.
in any case, if the people see themselves as individuals, they can exercise their franchise. I do hope that someone will not come up later today and say that they don't recognise the ballot in Tain.
questions: can we say that the EC has been restrained by any court order? can NPP say that they have served the EC with a court-approved (restraining) order? is the EC right in conducting today's poll in Tain? has the NPP made a mistake with their non-participation action of today? would Tain plebians be angry with NPP and give less votes to NPP today?
what other steps are NPP likely to take in the aftermath of Tain? How remote is the possibility that Pres Kufour would not have a successor named by 0700hrs January 7th? many questions abound on my mind.
in the meantime, whilst we are brooding over the questions, the EC has said that it is not by force for parties/candidates to have an agent at the polling stations and the collation centres, but an option they have put in place to deepen participation in the process.. so they have gone ahead to carry out the exercise in Tain.
Like I said yesterday, 1700hrs today will be the most sought after time on our clock. until then, my ears are glued to the radio and my eyes on the TV..
whew!!! this day is truly unfolding. Today, I am wringing my fingers because my finger and toe nails are all finished.
Do we have a political stalemate? This is one election that will get the political historians enough fodder to analyse for many years to come. whatever you can add, add and let the debate go on!!
Another Friday in Ghana has just started and the EC has a big task. Would he accept the challenge? I sincerely hope so.
Good morning
Bla Elik
Thursday, January 1, 2009
What can we do to knock down the problems?
1454hrs Friday January 1, 2009
Supporters of NPP are grieving for points. Non-Supporters of NPP are mad that they are wasting everybody's time. Indeed, everyone appears to have an opinion and it is increasingly getting to the point of extreme in terms of positions. In the end, it is we the plebians who are left with a perplexing state of anxiety. I don't like the feeling at all. I just want to live my life and move on with my business come Monday January 5, 2009. It is looming large on the horizon that this thing that came to the wire is likely reaching its tensile strength. What do we do to prevent it snapping.. to ensure that everybody comes out this unscathed and with his/her honour standing? This is my reason for this afternoon.
Now it is clear that it has moved from "I have a chance" on the part of NPP to "we want our rights given to us before this matter can be settled". This is the impact of the follow-up action to Arthur Kennedy's statement on Metro TV last night. And what am I talking about? The ex-parte motion filed today at the Accra Fast Track court. what the NPP wants is summed up in Arthur K's statement about the constituencies in Volta Region. Of course, somehow, the media and NDC and the observers all heard about it and trooped to court and Madam CJ also assigned a Judge to sit on the matter this morning.
Meanwhile in a different part of the country, the buzz activities for political action was going on by the NDC big wigs.. it has even been reported that some NPP boys there are saying that if AfariDjan doesn't say something about the NPP writ, then they won't vote. Anyway, the Judge told NPP that ex-parte means having a party by yourself but you need witnesses to celebrate the occasion so go look for NDC and AfariDjan and give them their invitation cards by 10.00 tomorrow (Friday) and the NDC would be expected to respond to their invitation by 1100hrs on Saturday. All that before he would even entertain any discussion in his chambers.
My view of the matter now - and this is polished by all the people I have been talking to (on both sides of the political divide) - is that the NPP is trying hard to be innovative in distancing itself from the people of Ghana. At this stage, it is not about whether NPP is right or wrong but simply that the wind of change has been demonstrated (in their opinion) and that NPP is just proving stubborn and losing all the marbles of a future fortune in 4 years time. My son, who is my independent political thermometer during this 2nd round, tells me that the NPP is acting in such a way that people would be so angry with them that the good will that they have built up might and will dissipate and keep them in opposition for many years.
I tell you, the moral (I don't know if its the correct word now, but let me use it all the same) standing of NPP is being eroded in the eyes of Ghanaians, because it seems as if their actions are being seen as plain disregard for the sensitivity of Ghanaians and a subtle contribution to any infractions that would happen in Ghana. God Forbid!! Amen. I doubt if NPP has that agenda!
I am seeing that there could be a possible difference in preferred action. I put this to Leadership. Sometimes the actions or inactions or non-action of leadership and any indoor conflicts with the family elders can ultimately bring out the wrong messages to the people of Ghana. Even if NPP is right, people feel that the way they are going about things is not the best. perhaps, the tight deadlines available now provide a compelling reason for that.
So many people are saying today that NPP must not damage their democratic reputation or goodwill. Some people even feel that the said goodwill has been taken away already on the basis of events and their actions following AfariDjan's announcement. This situation is a real test case of leadership dynamics however difficult it is.
The questions that are on the lips of many are many - should Nana concede? should the leadership of NPP put down their files? Shouldn't Nana be seen to be talking to Agya Atta? can this election be "salvaged" outside of Tain? Are Ghanaians prepared to wait beyond Friday to hear who their next President would be? would Ghanaians be prepared to allow President Kufuor to stay as President whilst a court battle rages on? if yes, what constitutional provision caters for that hanging situation? if so, which Parliament would need to be in place to be inaugurated to hear the Inaugural Address by the President? I tell you, last night after watchnight service, the talk on the lips of my friends was that the tension is just too much to bear.I won't ask their (NPP's) motive but clearly they are very determined to prevent losing the elections (notice the way I have put it).
This is very daunting for NPP because AfariDjan has announced the certified results for 229 out of 230 constituencies. he is saying that its up to Tain to bring the casting ballot for this presidential race. For presidential results, the whole country is one constituency so maybe some polling stations could be relooked at.. but there are procedures for achieving this. I believe, not until the man declares the results, you have nothing to file an affidavit on. because the declaration at the polling stations and constituencies and regional levels are all provisional results until signed and approved by AfariDjan. Once, the man did this on Tuesday, the metal bolt appears to have been cast on the matter.
So the other question I have is, what stops AfariDjan from declaring on FRIDAY night the winner following the Tain vote? whilst there is a case likely to be heard on Saturday or SUNDAY by Justice Ofori-Ansah's (I am not sure what the name is) fast track High court?
My hunch is that AfariDjan would announce as it is duty to do. If he does not, he would also be blamed for being influenced by Government to keep this battle enjoined unnecessarily. If he does, he would be seen as a hero by NDC.. no where cool!!
Can our man take the heat, his independence, his profesional experiences and kill all the birds with one stone? if so, when can he do it? when should he do it? why should he do it? how does he manage the after effects of what he does....? does he have to be the person to manage the after-effects? would there be any after-effects? these are matters for the political scientists and those physically ini the political game.. We the plebians have no locus standi in venturing into the minds of either AfariDjan or the politicians.
There is too much confusion and tension. Ghanaians at home and in the diaspora should not be despondent at all because we shall rise above all this with an intact country...so please don't stop your money transfers. we love the inflows. Tain is bustling with all the attention. they are all there. wow, there is even live TELEVISION coming fro that place.. can you imagine.. development can come when it is necessary!!! Tain people, you are buei!! How will your thumbs talk tomorrow?
1700hrs, Friday January 2, 2009 would be the most precious time this side of this new year. I doubt if any of the 140 polling stations there will not have live coverage on radio tomorrow. already, come and see the local folks being interviewed on TV side by side with the big politicians. Life can be sweet if there is all the glitter of attention on you. Goodness and Mercy shall be showered on Tainese all the days of their lives until 0700hrs tomorrow morning.
In spite of all this , believe me, I want to commend Ghanaians for the unbelievable show of courage and determination never to be cowed into any conflict thus far. Paradoxically, despite the tension, it has been very quiet (no peaceful) otherwise. I even decided against buying my bag of rice already. It is a matter of pride that this close election has not, with the exception of what appears to me to be a few orchestrated (certainly not spontaneous) rampages by small groups of supporters on both sides, not led to any national level conflagration.
We await the wisdom of AfariDjan and his team.
I tell you and I repeat that I am proud to be Ghanaian.
Bla Elik
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