Lessons for all Politicians

Indeed, a lot of history was made in the 2008 Ghanaian elections. First, the electoral commissioner, Dr. Afari Gyan made history in supervising all the five peacefully conducted electoral polls under the fourth republican constitution. From 1992, political power has changed hands peacefully from one democratically elected government to another, all under the eagle watch of Dr. Afari Gyan; the great referee. Second, the elections turned out not only recording victory for the NDC but the NPP as well. In other words, the NPP did not only lose the elections but won in some circumstances while the NDC did not only win the elections but lost in some circumstances.

This article seeks to examine the paradox of the historical and political matrix that Ghana witnessed in the 2008 general elections. Quite frankly, NPP lost the 2008 general elections because they lost a lot of their parliamentarians and NDC won the elections because they gained more seats in parliament than they previously held. It is my strongest view that, this factor played out in the second and third rounds of the 2008 general elections. Again, this factor equally played out in the 2000 general elections in which NDC lost a lot of members in parliament, while the NPP won a lot of seats and eventually won in the round off. If this analysis holds true, what this means is that, parliamentarians are very important to political parties and vice versa. By simple logic then, the electorate or constituents are very important to the parliamentarian too and vice versa. What is increasingly becoming obvious in Ghana is that, after parliamentarians have won the elections, their constituents do not matter to them anymore until another election. Essentially, this is why some politicians lost the 2008 elections. In the said elections, the NPP and NDC lost some members of parliament that could be described as politically incorrect. For example, now ruling NDC government, painfully lost the Bawku Central, China-Paga and Lawra-Nandom seats previously held by Mahama Ayariga, now president’s spokesperson, Abuga Pele and Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor respectively. To me, this represents a great loss to the party even though the party won the main elections. On the NPP side, former information minister, Asamoah Boateng, Alhaji Malik Yakubu, Alhaji Saddique Boniface, Fridie Blay of CPP officially but, NPP unofficially and John K. Ndebugri then of PNC officially but, NPP unofficially lost their seats. This was also a grave loss to the NPP too. Interestingly, the NPP triumph over the NDC in Lawra-Nandom and China-Paga is a historical win for the party while the NDC’s triumph over the NPP in Yendi is also remarkable win. The simple political message is that the Ghanaian voter is increasingly becoming sophisticated and therefore cannot be taken for granted.

Interestingly, the exit of these great politicians from the fifth parliament reminds us of General Obregon’s philosophy: “Don’t be afraid of the enemies who attack you, be afraid of the friends who flatter you.” Political feedback from the constituencies of these candidates and several other candidates indicates quite clearly that, they did not have their ears on the ground. Simply put, they failed to represent the interest of their constituents anymore hence, their constituents decided to show them where real power emanates. This action by the Ghanaian electorate is a great lesson for all politicians that you occupy political power at the behest of your constituents.

In a similar vein, General Obregon’s philosophy has some political wisdom for Nana Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the NPP in the last general elections. In fact, Nana Addo, after a good showing in the first round lost marginally to Professor Mills for one thing- praise singing and hangers on. Supporters of Nana Addo and the NPP needlessly, defended the indefensible. Instead, they were not afraid of their political “enemy” Professor Mills, who spent all his political time embarking on a door- to-door campaign that made him endure himself with the people of all shades and facets in society. What the NPP after going through in their December 2007 beauty contest, was afraid of most were “friends” including: serial callers, spokespersons of fan clubs, friends of Nana Addo and musicians who competed themselves out on how to flatter for recognition and Money. These ‘friends’ said what the NPP wanted to hear.

Surprisingly, when former President Kufuor was invited to the Buckingham Palace by the Queen, I thought he and his NPP entourage would have learned at least one lesson from that visit. One of such lessons, I’m referring to is derived from King George V six set of maxims that he displayed on the walls of the Buckingham palace. One of the maxims reads “teach me neither to proffer nor receive cheap praise.” That’s all flattery is: cheap praise. I once read a definition of flattery that I think may be worth stating here: “Flattery is telling the other man precisely what he thinks about himself.” The NPP was very much interested in hearing what they wanted to hear. I hope the NDC does not go the same route, for our young democracy ought to be growing.

Many lauded the NPP for good adverts, slogans and so forth in the 2008 elections. That was true but, what did those messages leave with the electorate? In fact, one advert that brought the NPP candidate closer to the Presidency was the one in which, Nana Addo was meeting foreign dignitaries such as the former US secretary of state, his chairing of the UN Security Council and so forth but the question is, did the message behind the advert resonate with the masses? A simple No, rather it deepened the perception that the NPP is only akin to people of high class and the wealthy in society. I’m wondering why Nana Addo, joining of trotros could not be used as an advert? Many hold the opinion that the NPP at the time found such an advert as demeaning of their incoming President. Now the question is, how can you be looking for power from the very people you do not want to associate with? As earlier pointed out, many of the NPP campaign adverts on Nana Addo were good to watch and listen to but did not leave messages that resonated with the masses. I currently understand the NPP fears that word. The NPP had a simple agenda to the Ghanaian electorate; portray Nana Addo as the best man with the best international credentials. Admittedly, it was certainly an addition to bring his credentials on the international community to bear; but I think they got it all wrong, why? To me, it is easy for any President to meet members of the international community as President Mills is now doing. What is difficult is to resolve problems your nationals get into in other countries without straining your relationship. Did Akufo-Addo measure up to that? Absolute No! Why couldn’t the NPP run adverts on efforts to get the 40 Ghanaians murdered in the Gambia resolved as of the time Nana Addo was a foreign minister? This was a huge issue the NPP down played. They simply forgot that many Ghanaian youth on a daily basis try to escape the shores of this country through unapproved routes. What did his international credentials mean to families and youth who were murdered in the Gambia? Instead, it took the then ranking member for foreign affairs, John Dramani Mahama to move a motion in the African Parliament on the Gambia and related issues. Subsequently, Vice President John Mahama has given meaning to their government’s international credentials by recently, negotiating for the release of a Ghanaian in the prisons of Libya. In addition, everything that was then under the NPP regime had a justification; they simply forgot that human beings are not only rationale but emotional, moral and so forth. Even the loss of Narcotic drugs from the strong room of the Police Headquarters was strongly defended, the murder of Issah Mobila and the Overlord of Dagbon was terribly justified with references of the past PNDC; Jesus Christ!!! Is that Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako speaking? Indeed, on human rights records, the NPP could no longer compare themselves rightly or wrongly to the NDC. What did we see and hear, they referenced their actions and inactions with the PNDC days. What they again forgot so easily was that in doing so, they only likened their actions to a military regime instead of a civilian one.

Sincerely when some of these mighty, experienced, eloquent parliamentarians mentioned above, from all divide lost their seats, I was deeply worried for the parliament of Ghana. But upon a second thought, I said to myself; the Ghanaian voter has come of age, and needs to be taken more seriously by these politicians no matter your political party or background. For example, the CPP is fully aware that they will not be taken any seriously by the Ghanaian electorate until the Nkrumahist forces come together. Thus, some members of the CPP, who continue to stay in the kitchen of some ‘political mothers’ while spewing hot air will not in any way produce food from their own ‘political mothers’ kitchen either. It is time those members returned home and offered their political support or publicly call a quit with the Nkrumahist fraternity as John K. Ndebugri has finally done. But, one may ask, why this writer is doing his analysis more on NPP instead of the NDC. My response is simple; it is the NPP that lost the elections as the then incumbent government. Also, the NPP since losing political power is rather slow in examining itself. Finally, the NPP is still behaving as though they are in government; this behaviour is not in their interest as a viable alternative party and the growth of Ghana’s young democracy.

It is often said that those you meet while climbing up the political tree, are going to be the same people you will meet while climbing down the political tree. In my view, some of the early signs of the NDC government are good but there are serious concerns too, but, certainly not on the scale their political rivals want us to believe. However, the NDC’s social contract is with the people of Ghana and they must strive to keep their promises with the good people of Ghana. A good media image is good but not a prerequisite for winning elections. If the NPP has not learned its lessons, the NDC can pick up their shoes then. The NDC’s sycophants will scream louder to defend, the indefensible; certainly the decision of the Communication Director at the Presidency to exclude some media houses was not one to be defended. The intension of the NDC government, to spend GHc 50,000 in the renovation of bungalows for ministers is one of the early bad signals. The earlier they rescind that decision, the better. In fact, the least the NDC should do or can do is to set in motion a system of praise singing; to defend the indefensible; neither should they continue to have several wide channels of communication. For now, Ghana is moving forward in the right direction.



Credit: S.K. Mort (Email: saatouhmort@yahoo.com)
University of Ghana.