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Akua Djanie
In December 2012, Ghanaians went to the polls and the electoral commission officially announced the National Democratic Congress as the winning party, with sitting President John Dramani Mahama as the recognised president. But even before president Mahama could be officially inaugurated, some members of the losing parties, and the main opposition in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party, decided not to accept the results. As far as they were concerned, the results were fixed.
Ghanaians who wanted and voted for their flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, would not accept the results sitting down.
And shame on them, they had no qualm in encouraging their followers to be violent. Oh, what a pity. In fact, this is more than a pity. It is disgraceful.
As Nana Akufo-Addo and his team went about from place to place, proclaiming they had been cheated, I kept shaking my head in disbelief, disappointment and sadness. So on the Supreme Court goes Nana Akufo-Addo, and his men.
And it looks like Kenya is going the same way. In early March, 2013, Kenyans also went to the polls. And according to their electoral Commission, the official winner and president-elect of their country is Uhuru Kenyatta.
Well, apparently not, according to the losing Raila Odinga. Like his counterpart in Ghana, Odinga is determined to go to court because as far as he is concerned, the votes were rigged in favour of Kenyatta.
But unlike in Ghana, Odinga asked his supporters not to be violent. For that at least I am thankful.
Why is that in most cases the loser is convinced they were cheated? Look at what happened in Cote d’Ivore- the Gbagbo and Ouattara Saga. I am so fed up with these old men who want to take African countries as if they are their private property.
These people need to grow up and realise that yes, they may harbour dreams of being president, but that does not mean people will automatically vote for them.
Just because they spend some months prior to the election giving people t-shirts and making false promises does not mean this will translate into votes.
Just because you pay people to attend your rallies does not mean these same people will put ink on their thumb next to your face on election day.
And I definitely think it is time for some of these old men to stop acting childishly and even more importantly, to stop believing their own hype.
Hype is used to create an aura or something along those lines.
It is a tool used to make others believe in you.
But the moment you start believing your own hype, that is the moment of your downfall.
I know. I worked as a copywriter for many years. We created hypes about brands that were not necessarily true. But for the purpose of marketing we did the job.
I am also a TV presenter. And sometimes as part of a PR stunt, a hype is created about something I have done.
I know it is purely PR and do not believe in the hype. But it seems our African “politicians” do not know this. They believe in themselves so much, they cannot conceive that not everyone will actually vote for them.
I was in the UK during the Ghana elections, but kept my ear to the ground in Ghana. I kept in touch with people via phone calls and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
And I can say personally that I am not surprised one bit that John Dramani Mahama was officially announced as the winner. From the bits and bobs I gathered I really thought Ghanaians would vote for Mahama.
I did not follow the Kenya elections so closely, so cannot say what the feeling was on the ground.
But the fact of the matter is, the people voted. And the electoral commission have done their counting and come out with Kenyatta as the winner. Let the people of Kenya, including all losing parties, accept that.
Because really, this issue of fighting over election results is indeed unbecoming. And just because we now practice “democracy” does not mean every election has to be followed by court action by losers, exercising their democratic right.
This is pure nonsense. When are we going to have an election in Africa that is violence free or in which everyone accepts the results, no questions asked? Why should people stay up all night, counting votes if the results they bring will not be accepted as legitimate?
The way Akufo-Addo (and his men) and Odinga are behaving is showing them for what they really are. Uncouth. Determined to win power at all costs. Determined to be president of their country, whether the people voted for them or not!
Because according to them, yes the people did! What a mess. And how disheartening. I must say, in all of this President Mahama of Ghana has acted with dignity.
The man is not only loved by the masses but is humble and I think wants to get the job done.
Whether or not he will be able to do much, I do not know. But I like to think he is an honourable man. And I hope in Kenya, Kenyatta will also do some good for his people.
Because that is why people should go into politics. To do good for their people.
Having said that, I do not believe you need to be a politician to do things for your country, if that really is the objective.
In fact, I think you should have a proven record in doing work for your people before you are voted for. For example, Akufo-Addo’s main campaign theme or promise was free education for all Ghanaians.
Yet, what record does he have in providing free education.
If ever you go to Ghana please visit Akufo-Addo’s hometown, Kyebi, and see what the schools are like.
This is a man who claims he will provide free education for all Ghanaians.
My question is, does he have to be a President to do that? And why did he not do it when his party was in power, under then president Kuffour?
If Akufo-Addo had a proto-type profile free school system up and running and working, based on that I would think, “Now here is a man, not a politician but a citizen of Ghana who is supporting the education of his whole community.
Imagine what he would do for the whole country if he was President. In fact, I will vote for him because I have seen what he is doing.”
Yes, we should vote for our leaders based on what they have done or doing for their country as opposed to empty promises made during desperate times on the campaign trail.
Because really, you do not need to be a President to make a difference in somebody’s life.
Believing you are presidential material and that you were born for that role does not mean voters feel that way.
We all have dreams and aspirations. Some of us will achieve some of those dreams, but sadly some of these dreams we may have to let go of at some point in our lives in order to move on.
And I think that is what Akufo-Addo should do because right now he is not looking dignified. I actually feel sorry for him.
He has lost all credibility and he is proving to everyone how desperate he is to wear the title of President.
Remember the previous election where he was so sure he was going to win and there were rumours of crates of champagne with his face on them, imported into the country but left sitting at the harbour after the late Professor Mills came out as the actual winner?
Just as he is doing now, Akufo-Addo could not accept the official result then. Personally, I am tired of all these old men who are taking us Africans for a ride.
None of them really seem to care about their respective countries. None of them seems to have the know-how. And since the days of our founding fathers none of them (except Mugabe and Gaddaffi) have the balls to stand up to Europe, America or more recently China.
Yet they want us ordinary citizens to spill our blood for them.
Well, we all wait with bated breath to see what the courts in Ghana and Kenya will have to say. Until then I think we should all rally round President Mahama and Kenyatta, the officially announced winners and hope and pray they can make a difference.
Because really we need to start moving forward. We need to give our people basic amenities such as electricity, water and good roads. We need educational systems that feed the brain to create, not just consume goods from China or Dubai.
But above all, we need Presidents that will bring about a mental change in attitudes because one of the biggest problems we face in Africa is our mentality. The mentality of bribery and corruption, among other ills, will not take us anywhere .
We need Presidents who can make people see and do right from wrong. Until then, we will just keep going round in circles, chasing our own tails while the French and Chinese, Americans and Brits steal our oil, gold and diamond, among others.
But hey, these are just the reflections of an ordinary African woman. — New African.
Online Reporter