Defining moment as nation votes tomorrow
Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1992, Ghanaians have voted to choose their leaders at both the constituency and the national levels and tomorrow’s epoch-making polls will be no exception.
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After similar national exercises in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012, tomorrow’s polls, the seventh since the dispensation, are proving to be very dicey, cagey and challenging.
The direction of travel as to who wins the Presidency in particular and hold the balance of power is still uncertain.
Defining moment
While there are successes to celebrate as far the country’s elections are concerned, tomorrow’s polls are a defining moment for the nation, as any wrong decisions taken by the about 15.8 million voters must be lived with for the next four years until 2020 when another opportunity avails itself for any remedy.
Therefore, voters owe it as a personal responsibility to vote in the collective national interest and not along parochial, ethnic, vain and empty platitudes.
Evaluate all candidates
But the questions to ask are: do many Ghanaian voters know why voting is important? What needs to be done to make these right choices and decisions?
Since voting is a very serious business bordering on sovereignty, it must not be taken for granted.
Therefore, to make the right decisions and choices in an election will require voters to carefully think through the processes and do proper evaluation of all the candidates seeking our mandate to rule the country.
It is very important for every individual voter to recognise and appreciate the value of voting. This is because the voter is surrendering his or her sovereignty to the elected leader or leaders.
Furthermore, since one’s vote is one’s power, it must be exercised in such a way as to enhance the well-being of the nation and, more importantly, the ordinary citizens.
For those satisfied or dissatisfied with their elected leaders, this is the time to use the thumb to make a choice.
In choosing the right leadership to steer the affairs of state, voters must recognise and appreciate the fact that they have the personal, onerous responsibility to contribute directly or indirectly to their own development and well-being.
Ghanaians must use tomorrow’s polls as the beginning of concerted and coordinated efforts to hold all our politicians to fulfill the plethora of promises they have made if given the mandate to steer the affairs of state from January 7, 2017.
They must also realise that it is only through our individual and collective efforts that we can help build a prosperous nation for all.
Unfortunately, many of those who want to lead us in the next four years are exploiting the ignorance of the people by promising them heaven and the moon.
But after elections, what normally happens?
Come tomorrow, Ghanaians will elect a crop of new leaders — a President and 275 legislators — who will be expected to lead the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
Intense campaign
So far, the elections have arrested everybody’s attention in Ghana. Even children are interested in the polls. The campaigns have been intense and no political party has left anything to chance by way of enhancing its chances of winning the polls.
This is the time to showcase to the whole world that the nation has always been the trailblazer in democracy in the sub-region.
As a nation, we must go through this all-important national exercise peacefully, so that, no matter who emerges victorious, it will be a win for Ghana.