Social media users, also known as netizens, are familiar with this popular video trend where people appear on camera in turns to make way for the main celebrant of an occasion—forgive me, I do not know the name of that trend.
But if the event is about a wedding, friends of the bride, in this case, usually start with “I am not the bride; I am the bride’s maid.” Another will come, “I am not the bride; I am the bride’s course mate.” The fun continues. This happens in turns until it gets to the bride’s turn—it is fun and interesting.
Now let us shift focus and take this fun to the seat of government. Politicians in this country have made us understand that the President is the ‘driver’, no matter which party is in power.
The Finance Minister will start for us; “I am not the driver; I am the driver’s treasurer.”
Then the Executive Secretary is next. “I am not the driver; I am the driver’s secretary.” Then it gets to the turn of Mr. Gabby Otchere-Darko, “I am not the driver; I am the driver’s…” Unfortunately, I do not know the designation but your guess is as good as mine.
Fast-forward to the turn of the second gentleman of the land—there are over 100 incredible positions at the seat of government—the Vice President, “I am not the driver, I am the driver’s mate.” This statement would later come back to haunt the chairman of the Economic Management Team (EMT), and lo and behold, it did.
Not long after the delivery of the ‘Bold Solutions for the Future’ vision statement, the word “mate” appeared to have stolen the shine away from the over one-hour-long delivery by the Vice President.
Why was there a stir over “I am the driver’s mate”?
In 2012, the NDC’s 2024 presidential candidate, then the President following the demise of Prof. Evans Atta Mills—of blessed memory—suggested that he was a “spare driver.” He asked Ghanaians to make him the main driver in the December 2012 elections. Oh Yes! Ghanaians did! As regards whether Ghanaians enjoyed the four-year-long drive, December 7, 2016, has the answer.
In a Myjoyonline.com article titled, “Turn me from the spare driver into the main driver—Prez Mahama,” Mr. Mahama said at an IEA presidential debate in 2012 that the time has come for voters to change his status from “spare driver” to driver.
“The NDC government has done a lot in four years. Our constitution gives presidents two terms. Take it that I am the spare driver or caretaker. Prof. Mills, of blessed memory, started the process, and I am finishing his unexpired term. I believe the NDC government deserves a second term to be able to build on the foundation that it has laid in these four years. I am certain that Ghanaians will vote for me and turn me from the spare driver that I have been described as into the actual driver leading us to our destination,” a quote from the article attributed to Mr. Mahama read.
Did Dr. Bawumia take inspiration from the sentiments Mr. Mahama expressed back in 2012? Whether he did or not, he had his rendition for the Vice President position.
“As Vice-President, I am like a driver’s mate. But if, by the grace of God, you make me President, I will be in the driver’s seat with constitutionally mandated authority to pursue my vision and my priorities,” President Akufo-Addo’s darling deputy had this to say when spreading his vision statement to Ghanaians from the UPSA auditorium amidst cheers and applause.
According to pro-Bawumia people, there is a clear similarity within the context of the analogy made by the New Patriotic Party flagbearer and the ‘spare driver’ analogy made by Mr. Mahama. However, to supporters of Mahama, who is the 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Bawumia’s analogy sought to appeal for votes by insulating himself from the failures of the current government while Mr. Mahama had taken responsibility for his role in the Mills-led government.
Depending on the political side to which you belong, “I am a spare driver” and “I am the driver’s mate” would appeal to you differently. But when we run into a ditch after missing the road to our destination, it is not the place of the driver’s mate to remind the passengers that he is a mate. Especially when the driver has over time praised the skillsets of the mate who holds the map for the journey.
Moreover, whether “I am a spare driver” or “I am a driver’s mate” means shirking responsibility or not, responses are varied once again, depending on the individual’s political leanings. A spare driver is usually reserved if the driver is indisposed. One could argue that such drivers are likely to make mistakes on the road due to their long years of staying off the road.
In the same vein, the driver’s mate, who watches on for his boss to take commuters to Hohoe instead of Koforidua, would have a hard time convincing the passengers to let him drive them back to their right destination.
Ghanaians go to the polls on December 7, 2024, to elect another driver who will steer the affairs of the country for the next four years. Would it be a “spare driver” or a “driver’s mate”? You decide!