MR. J.H. MENSAH - WHY THE CYNICISM?

I gasped recently when I read news reports of a statement said to have been made by Mr. J.H. Mensah. Unquestionably, Mr. J.H. Mensah is one of the most intelligent members of our political class - and possesses a rare and powerful intellect.

Yet, astonishingly, Mr. Mensah is reported to have said that US$7millions had apparently vanished into thin air during the tenure of the previous regime - for which reason, he felt that the former president had no moral right to accuse the present regime of being corrupt.

What precisely was he seeking to justify in making that odd statement - and in saying the former president had no moral right to criticise the present regime? Are we to conclude therefore, that it follows a priori, that millions of dollars of taxpayers' money still vanishes into thin air today, too?

Was he implying that corruption under this regime, could be justified - because it had occurred during the tenure of the last regime?

Mr. Mensah ought to remember that it was precisely because Ghanaians wanted better government, that they voted the previous government out of power. We did not vote his party into power, in order to carry on in exactly the same fashion as those who made US$7 millions vanish into thin air, did we?

My neighbour's precocious eleven-year old son's derisive riposte to Mr. Mensah was: "Uncle Kofi, why do our political leaders make such asinine statements?" Fancy that - just why did Mr. Mensah think Ghanaians voted the present regime into power?

It was certainly not to entertain them carrying on in the same fashion as yesterday's crowd in power did, was it?" That, remember, dear reader, is a mere child of eleven.

Mr. Mensah and his crowd must not think that the "My-party-my-tribe-right-or-wrong" myrmidons who wear blinkers 24/7 and are as narrow-minded as they are unprincipled, whose unthinking support they rely on and exploit so, is what will save their party on election day.

The independent-minded and discerning Ghanaians who will be deciding who wins the most votes on election day, do not want to hear such cynicism from those whom we thought were going to set new standards of morality and accountability in our public life; but have disappointed us so much, in the nearly eight years they have held power. A word to the wise...

May God bless and protect our homeland Ghana, always. Long live freedom! Long live Ghana!