SPIRITS IN 2016 ELECTIONS?

NDC National Chairman,. Kofi Portuphy

By Ekow Mensah

The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr Kofi Portuphy is not joking. He has gone beyond the realm of human activity and is seeing spirits in the 2016 elections.

He has passionately appealed to party members, supporters and sympathizers to pray fervently for the intervention of the Holy Ghost in this year’s elections.

According to him, this has become necessary because opponents of his party are using evil spirits in their efforts to win the elections.

Significantly, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has also said that “the battle is the Lord’s”.

Nana believes he did not win the 2008 and 2012 elections because it was not God’s design.

He says God will now have favour with him to win the 2016 elections.

So what are the 2016 elections about? Where do the people of Ghana and their aspirations fit into this year’s elections?

If the battle is the Lord’s and the outcome of the elections would be determined by some spiritual welfare, then why are the parties appealing to the electorate and discussing economic and social issues?

Maybe the employment of prayer warriors would do the trick.

Let’s put the prayer warriors of the NDC and NPP on the battlefield and simply wait for the outcome.

What an election!

Editorial

SPIRITS IN POLITICS

Politicians are free to believe in whatever they want provided they respect the tenets of the national constitution and for as long as it does not harm the interests of citizens.

The Insight is not worried about the religious proclamations of all kinds of politicians but we feel deeply offended when they attempt to impose their religious preferences on the people.

This is because Ghana is officially a secular state and therefore religion must not be State sponsored and important national decisions ought not to be made on account of religious considerations.

It is indeed sad that some politicians see the 2016 elections as a contest of different religions.

Some even think that it is a battle of different spirits and they ignore the real concerns and aspirations of the working people and their allies.

The politicians must learn to keep their spirits at home and avoid pushing them into the centre of national politics.

AVOIDING QUID PRO QUO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING

President John Dramani Mahama

By Dora Addy
‘…and no man gave you a fur coat without expecting to receive something in return. Except for one’s husband, of course, who expected nothing beyond modest gratitude’. - Kate Atkinson, bestselling author

Between the government and the governed who serves who? This is a good question to ask especially during this campaign season; the nearing towards the 2016 general elections.

The offering of ‘something’ for ‘something’ has been usually employed by politicians for a very long time, and the enduring masses have come to accept this ‘package’ as very good and promising from public officials.

Quid pro quo has been the deceptive tool of many politicians. It is simply cheating the masses of their rights; the provision of their most basic freedoms in development and rights. Owing to this tactic, some simply use this cheating method to sit on development project, only expecting to be elected again.

Yet again, this season of elections have begun with the reading of manifestos, and like never before, many Ghanaians are looking forward to good works and actions from the many promises being offered.

But the campaign journey can be even more fascinating; at the turn of events, you will come to realize that certain ridiculous requests are being demanded from the masses. Quid pro quo is now being used to manipulate the masses for votes.

THE POLITICS AROUND QUID PRO QUO

The politics of ‘something’ for ‘something’ still stands and has become a catalyst for the wrong choices of many of the electorate today. The method is still being deployed, and unfortunately, thriving very well in those deprived regions that rather need major social and infrastructural upgrade.

THE POLICIES AROUND QUID PRO QUO

The policies created around this deceptive method does not usually work. They are specially designed and padded, but in reality, may not be implementable. Sound policies are implementable and do not need tricks to work around.

GIVE ME VOTES, I BRING DEVELOPMENT TO YOUR AREA

Nana Akufo Addo, NPP Presidential Candidate

It is treading on the ignorance of the masses. It shows a lack of respect and any sense of responsibility towards public office and duties that one is accountable for. Most politicians are now playing around ethnicity and taking advantage of people.

It is a common ideology in Ghana, that, a politician will only work the hardest where he received the most votes. Many politicians will only identify with those groups that were extremely supportive of their party and spent time following them during campaign.

Politicians will only develop areas of those people who have shown strong commitment along party lines and can give proof to some extent that, they cast their vote for them; and some people will even take pictures to show it!

National development should never be a bait to tease the electorate in order to gain votes from them. Only if the masses will learn and start demanding what is right from these people.

I GIVE YOU MONEY, YOU GIVE ME VOTES

In the heat of election campaigning, cash works like magic. Isn’t it too obvious these days that, a lot of politicians do indulge in splurging cash to the masses?

The doling out of money to the electorate during election season is one of the risible ways to grab the electorates’ attention. It is an insult on both givers and receivers, with an unlikely aftermath; either those political figures are deceived and voted out, or the electorate are denied what rightfully belongs to them. They are totally forgotten about and ignored. Whatever was promised them hangs in the air till the next poll season, or a bye-election campaign.

Money does not guarantee a vote or fulfilment of a promise. It is child’s play, and purely indecent in the world of matured politics.

Politicians may give money to the electorate for particular reasons. Money is an alluring asset to have. Who does not want money? The use of money to gather huge masses does not necessarily connote political support, but rather, it is an expression of the needs and burdens of the people.

Ivor Greenstreet, CPP Presidential Candidate

The giving of money by some political figures to the electorate could also be a sign of pacifying them for those long years not showing strong commitments. As has been the nature of some politicians, maintaining an uncommitted spirit towards their constituencies begins to tell on them; the locals at those constituencies begin to bare their anger, and may even pelt stones on some, as some locals have done. Quenching the fire before it razes the whole town, some politicians employ the use of money to quell down anger.

Politicians may give huge sums of money to the electorate during campaign periods as a way of showing that there is money in the system, as debunked by the general public. The ostensible display of wealth during campaigning is also a strategy to pull the electorate to their side. ‘Join us, and we will give you money’. Many parliamentarians have suffered defeat during bye-elections, wrongfully trusting that money would turn the hearts of the locals who have been neglected for so long.

The giving away of money during campaigns is also a sign that shows that they are far better option. But really, the choice of the electorate should lie in action, and so whether they are a better option or not, should never be determined by monies given, and neither should the electorate be influenced. ‘I can do more than the other’ should be in action, not in gifts. Evidence is made when effort can be proved.

Some politicians give out huge amounts of money during campaigns to make the point that they are only on the political scene to offer the needed help, and not to take cash. Anybody would easily believe that these people do not need money; they even create the impression that wealth is only a secondary matter, and that the people are the topmost concern on their list! Money then becomes the prime mode of deception of the masses who ignorantly fall for vain promises.

THE ETHOS OF ETHNICITY

The power of ethnic background plays strongly during elections and revealed after counting of votes. Ghana is so affected by ethnicity that it affects voting of the masses, irrespective of the present general conditions.

The electorate fall short here, and would wrongly give their votes to anyone that comes from their tribe. Throughout Ghana’s history, ethnicity has not really played any meaningful role in the effectiveness of leadership at all. We have had different tribes that have won the presidency and have done extremely well with some projects that we still enjoy today.

People choose along ethnic lines generally for the in-built wrong mentality of ethnicity that affects most Ghanaians. Most of the electorates wrongfully believe that giving power to their tribe members is only right. The pride of somebody from their tribe ruling them is enough, not considering the competency of the person.

People choose political leaders from their ethnic backgrounds because they believe they might have more business opportunities and grow their wealth and income when those persons come into power. Many people today, would place a strong value on what their tribesmen tell them. They would do anything to see them get into power. The spirit of brotherliness no longer comes from compatriotism but rather on ethnic background.

A COMPLACENT MASS

Why are the masses playing along?

Either side is responsible; the electorate and those aspiring political figures take the blame. Both are playing puppet on the other. Coming of age, and having experienced political failure at most point, we ought to be concerned when people suddenly give out money and utter sweet promises.

Such actions should be well noted and trumped.

If we should make strides and progress positively, there must be a strong resolve for change in attitude. The electorate must begin to demand some answers from irresponsible leaders. More importantly, the genuineness of true leadership lies in the quality of service over the years. And if novelty knocks on the door, the electorate should expect to find polished character.