Think Ghana; Vote Ghana
The December 7 election is an event (postulated outcome) out of the electoral processes, that has the potential to accentuate the economic development of our country or abate the modest gains already made by the blood and toil of our fathers, if not destroy it. We cannot allow any generation to blame our time for not upholding and defending the good values of Ghana. No!!!, not our days.
"...a wise man's heart discerns both time and procedure, because to every purpose there is time and judgment/procedure, therefore the misery of man is great upon him." (Ecclesiastes 8:5-6)
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As a nation going to the polls on 7th December, 2020 (hopefully from 7am to 5pm), if we miss the purpose and right procedures for the elections, then, the misery of elections could visit us. God forbid! May His mercies continually be upon His nation Ghana.
From the third stanza of our National Anthem as written originally by Michael Kwame Gbordzoe and composed by Philip Gbeho, we have these inspiring values to consider.
"Raise high the flag of Ghana,
And one with Africa advance;
Black star of hope and honour,
To all who thirst for liberty;
Where the banner of Ghana free flies,
May the way to freedom truly lie;
Arise, arise, O sons of Ghana land,
And under God march on forevermore”.
This election is about Ghana and not a political party, its manifesto or promises from individuals or parties. It is about raising the flag (Values) of Ghana High. The black star ringed in gold carries the hope of many nations. With the fear of the bright morning star, let's think Ghana and vote Ghana.
The Ghanaian Virtue
When we understand elections and its purpose, we will employ the right procedures and processes. This can keep away the misery of elections from visiting us.
Arise, arise, O Ghanaians everywhere, and under God, let us march unto victory in this election. Why should an event (Election Day) cause one to kill, divide, curse, and insult the same people one may want to lead? If one can do that on a political platform, then s/he is being self-centred, politically bias, indisciplined and not a Ghanaian (full of hospitality) to a nation one has pledged to serve. Without Ghana, there will be no political party and no elections. Therefore, think Ghana; vote Ghana.
Let us uphold and defend the good values and virtues of Ghana: Ghanaian hospitality and respect for the elderly/ leadership must be seen during our political rallies and voting days. Do not go out there on 7th December to vote for the darts of propaganda. The Ghanaian value system of honesty, true humility, fearlessness and a nation strong in unity is bigger than a political party and far too glorious than individual personalities. A true Ghanaian will not vote on a partisan basis but as a patriot.
Ghanaian Governance
According to Winrich Kuhne Aug. 2010, in his paper, "The role of Elections in Emerging Democracies & Post-Conflict Countries", "there is no iron law according to which elections are doomed to fail”.
Iron law according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is a law or controlling principle that is incontrovertible (disputed) and inexorable (impossible to stop or prevent).
We can always make every election a success for Ghana.
Governance is not an oligarchy (a small group of people having control of a country), therefore when we are on the political rally, be mindful and remember that to every purpose, there is time and procedure. Leadership is not by the iron law of Oligarchy nor plutocracy/Plutarch (government by the wealthy/elite/ruling class). Let us not elect our leaders by their wealth or class.
Ghana, the star of Africa, cannot be governed by a political party's manifesto only. There is a purpose for which Ghana exists as a peaceful nation, and all are interwoven into our national Anthem, Pledge, Coat of arms, patriotic songs etc. Therefore, if any governance by a political party believes in their manifesto which ideally is meant to be carved from the national agenda, more than the national values and the people, this must be rejected.
To quote Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa the Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in an interview with Daily Graphics recently, and published on 15th October 2020 at peacefmonline.com “… a manifesto is not parallel to the development planning process”. This means manifestos are not supposed to be in isolation from a country's development plans and visions.
However, the former Director-General of the commission, Dr Nii Moi Thompson believes that so far as the nation Ghana has no long term vision, political parties' manifestos will not help Ghana. This makes me believe why new governments abandon projects for years just because it’s not their priority.
Even if we do have a vision or long term national plan (Ghana@100) as a nation, that cannot be far fetched from the intuitive meanings of our National Pledge, Anthem, Coat of arms etc. Let us market and consciously advertise our national vision and long term plan to all, so we can measure the political parties' manifestos by them. This will help us make the best decision for Ghana when voting.
The Ghanaian (National) Election
The purpose of this national election is to examine which of the aspirants has the Ghana agenda (Ghanaian values, National Development…) in an achievable and logically measurable within the Governance time frame. Since the proverb says "Sɛ kwaterekwa se ɔbɛma wo ntoma a, tie ne din”. We need to consider the records of the parties and their leaders. Not only when they had been in power, even their existence to date.
Think Ghana; vote Ghana, not political parties, for they shall pass but the values of our Ghanaian Identity can not be eroded. Political parties and their unique leaders have all come to solve one problem or the other distinctively and gone but Ghana and her National Identity will still be here.
Think Ghana, and vote Ghana so that the miseries of election will not befall us.
Written by Brother Isaac Asante-Nimako - B.Ed., CEPA., M.Sc.(Econs.)