There is no gainsaying the fact that the coming year- 2024, means a lot to all of us in varied ways.
For me, I look forward to being able to defend my ‘title’ as the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Columnist of the Year.
That’s because it looks to me that my win- the plaque, citation and cash, has drawn significant attraction to that category of the GJA Awards. I am told that many a columnist have, since the awards ceremony, sharpened their writing skills in readiness for the announcement of Request for Entries by GJA next year. But the God that I serve, will grant my wish. In Jesus’ name…Amen!
I bet you have your peculiar 2024 expectation. So does President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Mr John Mahama and Mrs Jean Mensa.
You would recall that President Akufo-Addo, besides extending “warmest of greetings of the season and best wishes to all Ghanaians for a happy and prosperous new year” in his Christmas message, told us about one particular thing he will do in 2024.
Some say it is a reaction to the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin’s assertion that President Akufo-Addo is now a lame duck President. I say, it is a statement that was made for the sake of it.
Just in case you missed it, here it is, “I remain committed to the mandate you freely gave me. I will use the last year of my stay in office, to do all in my power to continue to help create a free and prosperous nation of opportunities where every Ghanaian child, no matter the circumstances of his or birth, has a fair chance to strive for a happy and dignified life and realise his or her aspirations.
Where we can unleash the sense of enterprise, creativity and innovation of the Ghanaian people, so that together, we can build a progressive, prosperous Ghana whose citizens live in harmony and security in fulfilment of the dreams of the Founding Fathers of the nation.”
What we could not do in seven years, we will accomplish in 2024. In Jesus’ name. If you believe that what God cannot do does not exist, say Amen!!! I have my tongue in my cheek though.
It is now the turn of President Akufo-Addo’s Vice. It is official. He wants to shake off the prefix Vice, from his title. PRESIDENT Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is the dream, and his tagline is ‘It is Possible.’
Dr Bawumia believes that with God all things are possible. So, he is chasing God through both Islam, his religion by parenthood, and Christianity, the seeming credible alternative for him. As such, although Christmas is for Christians, Dr Bawumia did not let it pass without a word from him to all Christ-like Ghanaians.
In his Christmas message, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Part (NPP), aside urging us to, “let the merry go around to our friends, colleagues, neighbours and the needy. Let the joy go around, let the love go around and the gifts and food also go around,” had a wish for 2024.
“The birth of Jesus was the beginning of a lifetime of impact and influence from a little village called Bethlehem. His God-assigned mission changed the world and redefined where he came from. In that light, let this season bring to our attention the fact that timeless impact starts with the birth of a massive mission from a little place that will last generations,” Dr Bawumia said.
What the Vice President did not add is that he had a humble beginning from Sakasaka, a little community in Tamale Metropolitan District of the Northern Region of Ghana.
“I attended Sakasaka Primary School in Tamale, Tamale Secondary School, Buckingham University in the UK, Oxford University and Simon Fraser University in Canada. It has not been an easy journey. My work experience includes a stint as a farm-by-day worker during holidays in my secondary school years, to driving a minicab (taxi) in London and cleaning dormitories in Canada as I studied for my PhD to make ends meet. God has brought me this far,” Dr Bawumia said in his victory speech.
You are right if you say that he did not mention 2024 or next year in the above cited quote. I guess you can equally deduce by now, if you are a regular reader of this column, that Eric has a decerning mind. Therefore, when I hear or read, “let this season bring to our attention the fact that timeless impact starts with the birth of a massive mission from a little place that will last generations,” I recognize an election 2024 campaign message.
Let’s go to his main contender, former President John Dramani Mahama, aka, JDM. Like Bawumia, his wish for 2024 is public knowledge- to be president. And his message is clear, not hidden in any philosophical language- ‘Building the Ghana we want.’ As such, JDM’s Christmas message was succinct. “May this festive season be filled with joy, love, and peace,” he wrote on his X platform.
It is needless to add that my personal opinion on the presidential ambitions of this duo is public knowledge.
From Eric’s Diary: Bawumia’s win- Ghanaians have a choice between the rock and a hard place?
Auntie Adukwɛi’s wish
The Ga name Adukwɛi invokes positive emotions in me. That’s because I dated a lady by that name before I met my wife. Plus, one of the best friends I have ever had, the late Richmond Kpakpo Allotey had a younger sister named same.
Unfortunately, there is an Adukwɛi in our national governance structure whose public outings raise negative sentiments in me. Well, by public outings, I am not referring to her beauty and fashion sense. That is a given- gorgeous looking fair lady. That’s enough clue to let you know that I am talking about Mrs Jean Adukwɛi Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
My concern is about the performance of her duties as a public servant with the huge responsibility to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. Yes, she does not do that alone, but the concept of primus inter pares presupposes that she has ultimate responsibility. And as the default spokesperson of the Commission, she is the one who speaks about all the policy decisions they have in the offing.
Not too long ago, she went to Parliament with a Constitutional Instrument (C.I) that seeks to make the Ghana Card the only identity document admissible for registration as a voter. This is against the background that evidence exists beyond reasonable doubt that a significant number of eligible voters do not have the Ghana Card for very obvious reasons- National Identification Authority has not been able to ensure that all qualified persons have the card.
Read what a key stakeholder like the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said before the recently held Local Government Election, “So many people don’t have the Ghana card and some of the people who have registered to get the card have not been given the card. And given the pendency of the District Level Election (DLE), to have tied registration to the Ghana Card knowing that some of the eligible Ghanaians have not been registered to get the Ghana cards, was going to be problematic.”
Various stakeholders such as political parties, civil society organisations and religious groups have urged her to reconsider the decision, but to no avail. The pivotal role of stakeholders in the public policy making process and the fact that they determine the success or otherwise of such policies is completely lost on her.
“Thirty years ago, when we took this journey, and we did not have a Ghana Card, it was only proper that we adopt a system that would ensure that people who didn’t have any documentation could register and thirty years on, we now have the Ghana Card, and we must rely on it, and it is the surest way to ensure the integrity of our register,” she insists.
Then suddenly, she announced two policies that could make or mar the 2024 elections- No need to use indelible ink and we want to close the 2024 polls at 3:00pm. It is the reasons she adduced for these ‘innovative’ ideas that make me wonder if my oft-cited critical thinking- ‘a kind of thinking in which you question, analyse, interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear, SAY, or write,’ was considered.
First, the indelible ink issue. “The issue of indelible ink, when we were not doing biometric, we were basically using your face, your card. We look at your face and we say this picture looks like you. The biometric technology makes it difficult for a person who has been verified and cast their vote to come a second time. So, there is no need for indelible ink. Once you have been verified, it goes into the system and you cannot come back a second time,” she explained.
My reaction upon hearing this statement was ask if Auntie Adukwɛi lives in Ghana? Whether she is not aware of the numerous challenges that have been associated with the use of the biometric machines since they were introduced for our elections? Such that she could put her reputation on the line for those erratic machines? Well, I can foresee chaos at some polling stations at Twifo Pewodie, that village beyond the Pra river where I undertook my National Service assignment.
Then the proposal to change time for close of polls.
“Based on our 2020 experience and also feedback from several observer groups, we propose to close the polls at 3:00pm. Our experience in 2020 reveals that by 1:00 pm, 70 percent of our polling stations were empty of voters as most voters had cast their votes.
“This was coupled with the robust verification devices that were deployed to the polling stations. We are convinced that by closing the polls at 3:00 pm, we will be able to count and collate in broad daylight and this will promote the needed transparency and orderliness that we so desire,” Mrs. Mensa said.
Very bright idea on the face of it. However, if one considers the reality on the ground, it becomes difficult to believe that the EC thought through this proposal thoroughly. Not with the recurrent late deployment of logistics to polling centres, which is compounded by the remoteness of some polling centres and the difficult terrain some election officials traverse and the constant breakdown of biometric machines.
More so, when the decision is being based on “70 percent of our polling stations were empty of voters as most voters had cast their votes.” Not 90%, not 95%. SMH. Worse still, very key stakeholders such as the political parties had no prior knowledge of this ‘innovation’. Expectedly, they have reacted.
“We receive that with some cautious optimism, to the extent that the EC can provide us with the necessary comfort that electorates would not be found wanting on the day of the election. But assuming that they provide that comfort for us, it is ideal for us to be able to close the polls early so that collation and things that need to be done to prepare results are done in daylight before dark. So, I think that is the import of that proposal that we first need to be sure that it will not result in people being turned away,” the NPP’s Communications Director, Richard Ahiagbah stated.
“That will be a big relief for this country. It’s early days yet, we will see as the conversation unfolds what our technical directors will advise the party to do,” the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Gbande said.
The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) also kicked against the proposal.
“GFL strongly kicks against this dangerous experiment in the upcoming election, which many agree is crucial because stakes are high and tied to the peace and security of our beloved country. But when a system is created for potential confusion on an election day, whereby potential electorates mostly first-time voters, may have to struggle to find their polling stations, this plan to close at 3:00pm could potentially disenfranchise thousands.”
It’s time to go
It beats my imagination how when people are put into PUBLIC offices, they forget that whatever decisions they take must be in the interest of the PUBLIC and in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Instead, they suo moto, imagine that the policy decision is feasible and impose it on us.
Not too long ago, it was officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, led by their Minister, Mr. KT Hammond who wanted to restrict the importation of a delicacy like ‘Yɛmu adiɛ’- tripe through a Legislative Instrument (L.I). Thankfully, pressure from various stakeholders forced them to eat humble pie by withdrawing the L.I.
As if the Chairperson and other commissioners of the EC were not in Ghana. Otherwise, why would they commit the same plunder of not consulting stakeholders. Especially so, at a time when the National Democratic Congress’ national executive have expressed their desire to return to the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
Auntie Adukwɛi, please for the sake of the Adukwɛis that I loved, please present your proposals- No use of Indelible Ink and closing of polls at 3:00pm, to IPAC for consideration. While at it, please convince them that the recurrent late deployment of logistics to polling centres and the constant breakdown of biometric machines will be a thing of the past. Also work with the National Identification Authority to ensure that your two information technology systems work in tandem to facilitate voting by all eligible voters on December 7, 2024.
And ooh! Next time, don’t use 70% as basis for such a drastic change in any policy. Your best bet is in the 90% to 100% range. Even then, force majeure (natural occurrences) can scuttle your efforts. But when your stakeholders are in tune with the change, Woman!! You are covered.
Happy New Year in advance. May God usher us into 2024 peacefully.
Shalom – That’s good bye in Hebrew.
Let God Lead! Follow Him directly, not through any human.
The writer is the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Columnist of the Year- 2022. He is the author of two books whose contents share knowledge on how anyone desirous of writing like him can do so. Eric can be reached via email [email protected]