Post-election emotions

“The sand looked so beautiful then, so many little individual grains in the light of the night, giving the watcher the childhood feeling of infinite things finally understood, the humiliating feeling of the watcher's nothingness.” 

― Ayi Kwei Armah, The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born

I always manage to stay away from writing on anything political because, taking a stand means there is an opposing stand to call you out. To argue out your stand will either prove you smart or prove you know nothing at all. But it isn't really a battle of the wits, is it?

Anyways, what i am writing is on a more personal level... As the Ghanaian elections gradually came to a close and the winner, in the person of John Dramani Mahama (JDM), slowly emerged, many friends of mine who are supporters of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were gutted, unsurprisingly. Their comments took this form: "so we have to deal with these people for four more years, Ghanaians are illiterates, what kind of rigging is this?". 

However, my personal favorite was, "NPP for life, no matter what, NPP for life." For me to see this on Facebook, Twitter and on any social network people find appropriate to reveal their inner bitch, it wasn't surprising and so i laughed appropriately. It wasn't the first time i had heard it and i know it will certainly not be the last. 

You cannot help but applaud the unwavering belief and backing of the Ghanaian people for each political side even as the ambitions and dreams of one or the other bloc come crashing down. In other words "Screw whatever positive initiatives this or that government will bring. I have already decided it will never be alright till MY party is in power" Thus NDC or NPP for life.

I do understand that all over the world, most poeple's political affiliations are nurtured and steeled in concrete like their values, their choice of clothes or probably second most important, their religion.

I think, (this is just me) this is very harmful. For me, it implies that people find it difficult to give chances; find it difficult to allow one to grow, to test the waters and ACTUALLY succeed.

Its a religion in itself, Ghanaian politics; If you are born into a muslim home, chances are you will carry on that way, if you have catholic parents, chances are you will be catholic too.

Presently, the NPP and its supporters aren't handling the results of the recently held elections very well. ... Rather ungracefully, i must say, (AN UNDERSTATEMENT). They have accused the incumbent government of rigging the elections and intend to take legal actions. Really, no one can blame them. They have been forced to accept defeat for the second time and simultaneously will now have retire their flag-bearer, Nana Akuffo Addo; INDEFINITELY. It sucks to lose and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the winning team will not make it easy.(in your face)

Now PLEASE people, i am not being PARTISAN; and i used to be, trust me. In my present post-non partisan state, i realize it is easier to deal with successes and defeats in moderation (I'm cool like that). 

So why did Nana Addo lose after a most up-close and personal form of campaign than the NPP has ever carried out, to John Dramani Mahama. The Vice-President, who inadvertently stepped into the driving seat and had barely four months to convince the Ghanaian populace he was the man for the job.

Now this is probably far-fetched and most people might react like i just said i saw a UFO. But i believe its that unspoken truth, intellectuals like to avoid dealing with. Why? Because there is not enough tangible reason for it.

Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo is NOT a favorite and will never be. Nana Addo is thoroughly disliked from his moon like-looking glasses to the shoes on his feet. Why? Because he represents the Aristocratic, privileged "old money" of the post-independence Ghana era. You know those people? the ones who had the best of everything; education, housing, and money way before the Ghanaian people began to understand what independence meant.

What did independence mean? did it dawn on us quickly enough that economically, there were there same opportunities Nana had were open to us? no it didn't not dawn on us. they weren't there. Governments were changing faster than we change clothes, half of the time people were busy trying to understand INDEPENDENCE and protect their own at the same time. Regardless, people like Nana Addo were right in the thick of it but fared better than most. (lucky bastard)

I think Nana Addo's stroke of luck is what fights him today. His privileged past robs him of the presidency. 

Is it too simplistic for you? i don't think it should be. Nana Addo certainly did not lose elections in Ghana because his policies did not make sense or his capability was in doubt. 

A colomnist called Kofi Kyeremah put this argument much better light in his article "Akuffo Addo has the qualities of a transformational leader" and i quote:

"Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo was born into a privileged family, his father was one time the president of Ghana. He was educated in some of the elite boarding schools in England reserved for only the privileged kids in society. After graduation, he went on to work in a prestigious law firm in Paris, France. Here in the west, they will describe him as someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth"

Now for most parts of the article, Mr. Kyeremah is basically endorsing Nana Addo's capability in running the country; that, however is not my concern. What interests me is his little description of the would-have-been president. Although he casually brushes this off, saying "Here in the west, they will describe him as someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth" i dont think its quite different here. In my language; one Mr. Kyeremah would understand, we would say "Y3 wo no to sika'mu", meaning he was born into money and there sentiment behind phrase is the same everywhere.

What I am trying to say is that, we should not belittle how important Nana's a-little-comfortable upbringing is to his unfortunate fate as the flag-bearer of NPP. Ghanaians, some Ghanaians feel Nana exudes a certain pompousness, an arrogance that implies that he has a right to the Ghanaian presidency. A feeling that pervades among even NPP loyalists. I have always wondered if he is aware of this perception. 

I say this because i look back at this year and i believe he really was the most vilified politician this year. Hell, they threw everything but the kitchen sink at him, with drug abuse as the headline. (Poor guy). 

It makes you wonder though, what is it that makes him so unappealing? Is Nana Addo a representation of all that we envy yet still admire? Does he seem superficial and unappreciative of the real problem of the ordinary Ghanaian? or is it spite? i am tempted to believe, (TEMPTED) it is the third option.

Is it a dark deep-seated contempt man possesses for anyone who is perceived to have had it all. In his case, democracy provides the power to "cut him down."

In other words, it was never about Nana's dedication to free education, economic growth, or any social policy, it WAS Nana Addo. All him. it was nothing he said, but it was everything he said he wasn't.

I am not saying we are not discerning, but we really must re-evaluate the way we vote. Many might not agree with me on this argument of mine. It probably sounds partisan, but the purpose of my writing was to focus on why Nana Addo lost, not why JDM won.

I say this because my argument implies that for even our new president, Mr. Mahama, lovers and supporters of Nana Akuffo Addo will almost NEVER be satisfied with his future endeavors as president. SIMPLY because, condemnation for a party(in Ghanaian politics) is ingrained; an unchangeable sentiment that festers just how a love for another party grows. (whether their ideologies make sense or not).

We all know JDM is going to his darnest to prove to his detractors and Ghana that he IS up to the task. He intends to make things happen; emerge with a new NDC era. But will it be enough for you? Is it ever enough? Will he be inadequate just because he was not YOUR choice? Have you graded him before he started the exam? Some of you have simply because.....

Is this how a future generation wants to think and operate? Then really, we aren't far the the experience of a one-time Liberia or Rwanda. If our loyalties to these parties borders on the brink of the intangible, there is no HOPE for the GHANA we dream of.

I won't lecture BUT people, if John Dramani Mahama has been giving the mandate to run our country. Let him. Support him. Criticize him objectively but spur him on. Let the contempt, hate, personal vendetta die. Let Ghana Live 

As for Nana Danquah Akufo Addo, in the next life he will certainly be born as the sixth son of a blacksmith and a bread seller who believe in Free Education. Maybe, just maybe he will stand a chance of becoming President.