Satirical Jabs at NPP's Presidential Contestants

Raising Political Consciousness: Obenewaa’s Satirical Jabs at NPP’s Presidential Contestants I’ll devote the entire piece of this article to satirize a few of the political proposals put forth by some of the NPP aspirants whose promises to the nation are only good for a novella. The use of odd methodology by some NPP presidential aspirants to itemize their second-rate achievements is pitiful, if not laughable. Despite their chronological experience in national politics, the inability of some of NPP presidential hopefuls to acknowledge the infeasibility of the blurry vision, and twisted policies, makes me question their intellectual capability, and sophistication in grasping political concepts, and their practical applications. In my opinion, the jumpiness of the part of the some NPP presidential aspirants, and their incoherence, in constituting intelligible ideas to solve the nation’s problems draws the world’s attention to the diminishing vitality in our nation’s politics. The unashamed use of “ye hunu difference no,” by some NPP presidential contestants, to give credibility to their party’s failed policies is a mere veneer beneath which incompetence, and corruption are revered political values. If there is an achievement differential between the current administration, and the NDC, then, the NPP presidential aspirants should not pander to the public for votes. Afterall, the average Ghanaian has the primary intellectual ability to make a critical assessment between an imaginary gold-plated heaven under the NPP administration as Mac Manu, and Ohene Ntow would argue, and “hell” under the NDC; a misplaced labeling which does not fully capture some of the policy successes under the NDC administration. Like our colonial masters, some old-schooled NPP politicians mistake the Ghanaian public for injudicious preschoolers in need of parental tutelage. Unbeknownst to them, the Ghanaian public has maturated, and understands the implications of policies, even better, than some of the nation’s “unqualified” politicians who have swamped the centre of power for economic paybacks and kickbacks. Thanks to Mr. Esseku, Ghanaian politics is not necessarily, and always, about service to one’s nation. Can the likes of Mr. Addo-Kuffour cite any corporeal examples of their achievements, and service, to the nation under current administration? Isn’t it becoming too retiring to our auditory senses to listen to emerging NPP political heavyweights, such as Professor Ocquaye, use the eradication of mosquitoes as a valid reason to contest the presidency? Of all the pressing issues that are currently belabouring the nation’s development, the eradication of mosquitoes is, and should be, one of the least important matters to use to showcase one’s competence as a leader. How does Professor Ocquaye eradicate mosquitoes from Ghana, when in fact the he failed to reform the ministries where he was the supervising minister? Maybe, when he becomes our nation’s next president, Professor Ocquaye may want to appoint Sheikh I.C. Quaye as the Minister Responsible for Mosquito Management, and Malaria Eradication. According to the Honourable Sheikh Quaye, Ghana’s mosquitoes cannot be controlled because their migratory patterns are not hampered by post-September 11 strict border regulations, such as the acquisition of biometric passports, and multiple-entry visas. As an animal, and insect rights advocate, Sheikh Quaye thinks that, the forceful eradication of Ghanaian mosquitoes from the Odor, and Korle Lagoons constitutes a violation of an International Treaty on the Humane Treatment of Insects. Who wouldn’t want to part of the current system of politics; one in which a Minister, who lost his Rapid Results College Certificate to the Alajo Tsunami, is paid coveted sums of money for his work of fiction in managing mosquitoes in the Greater Accra Region? Oh, Ghana! Sane Eba. In a century where political statements require verifiable evidence, should we, as a nation, allow Mr. Agyemang-Hackman to impress on us that, he will convert the nation’s dog-chain economy into a viable manufacturing sector to purge the rising penury among the nation’s unemployed if he is elected president? What prevented him from doing so under President Kufuor’s administration? How does Minister Agyeman-Hackam create a bustling economy when the Akosombo Dam is at the mercy of God’s seasonal tears, and can only operate at its maximum capacity on “31st September?” Well, I thought the month of September has thirty, and not thirty-one, days. How can Mr. Hackman rebuild the peripheral economy of a corrupt nation that sells its vote(s) at the United Nations to certain Western powers for foreign aid into a regional economic powerhouse? How can Mr. Agyemang-Hackman nurture a crippled economy into a regional giant, when he defended the shady disbursement of US$ 20,000 to Members of Parliament to import deluxe cars for their personal use when some of the nation’s school children continue to hold classes under withered trees? In my opinion, the nation’s political values have changed from genuine sacrifice (in)to “keep-your-plans to thyself,” until you are elected president. Hasn’t hypocrisy, given our leaders’ abdication of moral responsibility to tell the truth, stand by the truth, and lead as leaders, turned our nation into a unfriendly wilderness where the weak are left to fend for themselves? In an era of tested ideas, and the articulation of pragmatic policies, why should Mr. Addo-Kufuor ask the nation to vote him to become the next president because he averted coups when he was the Defence Minister? The Honorable Minister’s theory on coup-prevention is weak, and I am surprised by the resilience of some partisan purveyors who busy themselves with peddling such an irrational hypothesis. If the Honourable Minister was effective in preventing any military insurrection, can be tell the nation the names of the mutineers, and why not a single military officer has been charged with treason, and brought before the courts of law? From what I know, the Ghanaian military does not the appetite to engage in any form of military misadventures, knowing that such an act could draw international condemnation(s) and economic sanctions which could lead to the demise of the regime. Maybe, Mr. Addo-Kufuor is not following political developments in General Than Shwe’s Burma, and the international community’s denunciation of the heavy-handedness of Rangoon in curbing the civil liberties of Burmese citizens, particularly the Buddhist Monks, whose spirit of resistance against the military dictator is phenomenal. Or, could one take Mr. Addo-Kufuor’s coup-prevention speech, and his failure to prosecute theses imaginary mutineers to mean that Ghana has its own rendition program, and/or a Guantanamo Interrogation Centre where coup suspects are held for years without trial? The political sermons we hear from some of our nation aspiring leaders, many of which are babyish in my judgement, confirms my lingering worry that, some of our nation’s most respected leaders continue to bear the burden of a neo-colonial messianic thought; a belief that once elected as (the) president, one could access the divine wand and exterminate the nation’s man-made problems. As citizens, we should exercise our rights to call for a public debate on policies. I believe that, a transparent intra-party debate between NPP presidential contestants will give its youthful candidates, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, and Mr. Dan Botwe, the deserving publicity they need to weigh in pertinent national issues, and to market their latent leadership qualities to the nation. Should the preceding be negated with the charade, “ko di line ni mu,” then, our nation’s participatory democracy, and the spirit of engagement must be questioned by well-meaning Ghanaians, and our politicians called to order. Our nation’s problems cannot be addressed with empty catchphrases, such as “zero-tolerance,” “golden age of business,” indigenous capitalism.” I don’t even remember the last time President Kufuor used “zero tolerance” in his speech. The NPP stands a better chance of becoming a broad-based party, if septuagenarians, such as Akonta-Akokora J.H Mensah, whose understanding of 21st century politics is sourced from the Adam Smith’s Era, and "Ahenfie-Obroni-Adisua Emre,” gives way to enthusiastic bodies, and sharp minds within the party. Would, and will, he, at a time when his per diem from a trip abroad equals the entire life-savings of a senior civil servant. I wish my nation well. Good day and cheers.