If anyone had said, during the long years the National Democratic Congress (NDC) spent in the political wilderness, that the party would become so divided, when returned to power again, few Ghanaians would have believed it.
Yet, that is precisely what has happened. And today, one gets the distinct impression, that somehow, the hawkish elements in the two factions, dislike each other, even more than they do those who marginalised them in Ghanaian society, and manipulated the legal system to persecute them, during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). How so, one wonders?
It is a situation that cannot, but make anxious, any patriot and Ghanaian nationalist, who loves this country passionately, and is keen to ensure that Nkrumah's Ghana, never again falls into the divisive and grasping hands, of the small, powerful and utterly ruthless Akan tribal-supremacist cabal, which "owns" the NPP - and though small in number, dominates it so completely: unfortunately for our homeland Ghana.
(It must be stressed, however, dear reader, that the vast majority of the NPP's Ghanaians of Akan-descent, are non-tribalistic, and nationalistic in outlook. And, luckily for our homeland Ghana, they outnumber those narrow-minded, powerful and greedy individuals, in the aforementioned Akan tribal-supremacist cabal!)
It is for that reason that many of those, who rather than see Ghana breaking up into tribal entities (the ultimate goal of the NPP's "owners!"), want to ensure that it continues to remain the modern and united African nation-state, envisioned by Ghana's founding father, the great Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, find it necessary, at this juncture, to urge the NDC's two main factions to put their personal animosities aside, in the interest of Mother Ghana - and unite to work together to win a majority of the votes, in the next presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for December 2012.
Yes, it may very well be the case that both sides have legitimate reasons to be bitter, about certain things that have occurred since the NDC returned to power in January 2009. And, yes, those perceived wrongs must be acknowledged, addressed and resolved, to the satisfaction of the aggrieved parties in the wholly unnecessary feuding that has split the NDC apart, in such glaring fashion.
Ingratitude is a terrible thing - and both sides in this matter, are guilty of it. The Osu Castle "Lets-chop-Ghana-small-whiles-the-sun-shines-on-us" secret-deals-nyafu-nyafu brigade (so aptly referred to by President Rawlings as "greedy bastards") are a disgrace to a party that says it traces its roots to the June 4, 1979 insurrection.
They seem to have completely forgotten, that there are many others who suffered and made tremendous sacrifices, to enable the NDC to return to power again. Their complacency and foolish smugness, is shocking - having got power after eight long and painful years, they are now playing with it: because greed has blinded them, so. Atiyeyia ema awirefriyie, aampah! Pity.
Conversely, the disrespect and disloyalty shown the president, a gentleman who is the most honest and selfless individual to lead Ghana thus far, since Nkrumah's overthrow, is an affront to common decency - and puts those guilty of it, beyond the pale. It is time the green-eyed generals and troops of the "Let-us-bring-the-whole-edifice-down-if-we-cannot-chop-too" sour-grapes battalion, remembered that famous quip by General De Gaulle: "The cemeteries are full of people who thought they were indispensable."
No one is indispensable - and that includes all of them: those infernal so-called foot-soldiers, who do not know the meaning of self-respect and self-sacrifice for the common good, and those hypocrites manipulating them for the most cynical of reasons - and it is time they ended their unhelpful obduracy, once and for all.
This hasn't been the two sides' finest hour, so to speak - and the well-meaning and principled individuals on both sides, must make amends, by pulling the hard-liners on each side, back from the brink before it is too late, and come together to defeat the party of Kufuor & Co. again, in December 2012. Period.
It is extremely important that the two sides understand clearly, that whiles a united NDC can easily retain power in December 2012, it will definitely struggle to do so if it continues to remain as divided as it currently is. One therefore hopes that they will do some creative thinking - including even thinking the unthinkable: in order to achieve an outcome that will redound to the benefit of all concerned, and to Mother Ghana's benefit, above all.
That is what is needed to reunite and re-invigorate the NDC - and create a lasting momentum that will sweep them to power again in the December 2012 election. To that end, one cannot but urge both sides to consider what some may regard as the mother of all political game-changers: a most radical and stunning example of thinking-the-unthinkable in Ghanaian political history - an idea so simple and blindingly obvious, both sides may wonder why it never occurred to them: A Mills-Rawlings ticket for 2012.
This is the perfect time for Vice President John Mahama, to make the best contribution he is yet to make to the well-being and future-good of the NDC: let him step aside for Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings. By so doing, he will enable his party to go into the campaign for the December 2012 elections, a strong and united force.
Clearly, it does not make sense to continue having two mild-mannered and ever-accommodating individuals as president and vice-president of the Republic of Ghana. If truth be told, it is the source of all their difficulties to date: as Ghanaians essentially are a people who want, and take to, strong and tough-minded leaders. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings will provide the backbone President Mills' presidency so desperately needs. The question is: Will Vice President John Mahama make the ultimate personal sacrifice? One hopes he will - for Mother Ghana's sake. A word to the wise...
Tel (powered by Tigo - the one mobile phone network in Ghana that actually works!): + 233 (0) 27 745 3109.
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