GHANA'S SITUATION AND THE IMPENDING ELECTIONS

     I have been paying attention to the events that are taking place in Ghana, my motherland with great concern. I have read various write ups from President Mahama, ex-presidents Rawlings and Kufuor. I have also read from NDC representative Bagbin, Vice-Presidential candidate Bawumiah, presidential candidate for the NPP Nana Akufo-Addo Dankwa respectively.

     In addition, I have read from Dr. Kwesi Ndum. Finally, I have read from honorable Kofi Annan who is the pride of Africa. He provided the invaluable service to the world as the General Secretary of the United Nations.

     When I read such pieces and examine the events that have taken place in Ghana since President Mahama took the mantle of leadership after the demise of president John Atta Mills and his own run of the office in 2012, things are not faring well in Ghana. The economy of Ghana is in shambles and our young people including university graduates cannot find any employment. The nation is suffocating in unsustained debts. What is disheartening is that Ghanaians are not seeing the tangible projects for which these loans are taken on behalf of the nation. The sad thing is that Ghana has been blessed with various kinds of natural resources. In recent years the discovery of oil, its refinery, and proceeds were supposed to alleviate the sufferings of the populace but that have not been the case. Our people continue to work hard but their sufferings keep growing without any rest. Workers can work for about six months without being paid. However, the president and members of parliament continue to receive their fat salaries while ordinary workers continue to be deprived of their deserved salaries and wages. Some even have to borrow money to pay for their children’s school fees. All that the president and his administration do is to offer unfulfilled promise upon promise. However, the time of accountability has dawn upon Ghana. The time of political elections is here for the people to express their approval or disapproval by going to the ballot box to vote. The electorate have a decision to make.

     First, I suggest that voters should vote their convictions and their conscience.

     Second, listen and read every party’s manifesto. What is the party’s platform? Don't fall for any party’s platform that is unrealistic and unachievable. In other words, the platform should not be so lofty that it is unattainable.

     II. What Voters should Demand from the Presidential Candidates

1.     What is the candidate going to do with the country’s resources? You know that the current government has not been transparent with the revenues of the nation’s resources.

2.     Availability of Job Opportunities

3.     What would the presidential candidate do to ensure and provide job opportunities for many of the young people who cannot find jobs? These include university graduates, technical school graduates, vocational school graduates, nursing school graduates, teacher college graduates, etc.

4.     How would Our Farmers Be Treated.

The farmers are the backbone of our economy but the government continues to take undue advantage of them. This is one of the many reasons we cannot encourage our young people to engage in farming. Are farmers’ produce given fair prices?

III. The Challenge for the Candidates

1.     Is the candidate working for the electorates?

2.     Does he/she think of personal interest?

3.     Does the candidate have a servant spirit?

4.     A Sense of Entitlements

5.     Accumulation of Excessive National Loans

6.     Are the leaders accountable to the electorates?

     How many people are going to benefit from the national cake? Is it still going to be a leadership of corruption, greed, and avarice? Are the leaders going to line their pockets with the national coffers as usual?

     Finally, I exhort the electorate to pray for the country, the people, and the candidates that they trust God to help them. I also pray that the elections should be fair, firm, and transparent without the incumbent rigging the votes. Let's make history this year by God’s grace as we choose leaders who will put the interest of the nation ahead of them and their personal agenda and ambitions.