Fortunately, Ghana has carved a niche for itself across the globe as a peaceful country, which is true, a hard-won reputation indeed. But, I pray thee, do not be swollen headed and take things for granted in the coming 3 days as we go to the polls again. Civic responsibility behooves on us all, from the EC, national security agencies, media practitioners through to the ordinary citizen to affirm this reputation and once again consolidate our ‘’crawling’’ democracy.
Since 1992, when Ghana was ushered into pure democratic tenets amid periodic, healthy, competitive elections after every 4 years, most political researchers including think tanks and policy analysts find it very difficult to rationalize certain political decisions and voting patterns of a section of our population. Unfathomably, electoral vote outcome usually drives major stakeholders in the game to invoke or petition for a recount as a result of disbelief for such an outcome not going in their favour. Mostly attributed to electoral massage, vote buying or rig machinations.
The crying foul can never bring back the desired victory, go read everything about Nicolo Machiavelli’s ideology of politics and come back strong in subsequent elections…..Whilst reflecting on the reasons why the electorate vote and what seeming factors influence their votes (quite complex, though), again, I have been wondering whether it is just because people do not like certain ‘’looks’’ in the highest office of the state despite their experience and capability…JM OR NANA or NDUOM?
The trend keeps repeating itself every election year; it is just a cycle of lamentation in every 4 years. The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the major opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP) is fiercely fighting for the hearts and minds of people to vote them. It will be suicidal to keep voting based on friendship, old schoolism or boyism, cronyism, regionalism, tribalism, religion or looks….. It is overly established, freely and certainly true, that, political campaigns do not always reward the most qualified candidates and my beloved Ghana is no exception to this flourishing canker ‘’usain bolting’’ its way into our body politic and fabric as a nation.
VOTE with your HEAD, not your HEART. December 7, 2016, decides the future direction of our beloved Ghana. Are you OK with the current economy or state of affairs? Then, VOTE JM, If not VOTE NANA or NDUOM. Simplicita!!!!!!
I will miss this year’s election, not only as a registered voter but, in my usual capacity as a Presiding Officer (2008 and 2012 elections) for God and Country. I have my political leanings (known by close friends) just like any other Ghanaian, yet, in all I do, as an electoral officer, I put Ghana first. Politicians and successive governments would come and go but Ghana remains Ghana. Victoria Acerta!!!!!!!
YOUR MIND FOR DEY…WE GET ONLY ONE GHANA…HOME SWEET HOME!!!!!
Authored by:
RICHARD ZINLERI
About Author:
Richard Zinleri is a budding thought advocate, youth leader, writer and a Human Resources Manager from Ghana, with the Local Government Service. He is a graduate student at PSPS, Yeungnam University in South Korea, majoring in M. Sc. International Development Cooperation. He holds a BA in Political Science from University of Ghana, where he was active in student leadership, and has experience in writing journal articles, policy analysis, research and politics. He writes from Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan. [email protected]
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