2016? Akufo-Addo, Don't You Dare

What is wrong with us? Don't we know when to say when? Why is it that it is so easy for some of us to think that we are the only ones that God has ordained to lead our country and that if we don't lead the country, the country will go to pots?

I was surprised when NPP elected Nana Akufo-Addo for the second time to be their candidate after he lost to President Mills. Mr. Akufo-Addo should look at that as a kind gesture extended him by the people of NPP and show his appreciation by stepping aside after leading the party to a second loss. Any statesman will do this, but I am beginning to doubt if Mr. Akufo-Addo's ego will let him step aside. After all, he is ordained to be the President and until that happens, Ghana will never be right.

Here is a free advice for you, Mr. Akufo-Addo. The righteous thing to do is to step aside. If you want God to tell you whether to run in 2016 or not, I will guarantee you that God will tell you to do so. God always tells people to go for it when they ask him if they should pursue their ambition, and I don't see how he will tell you something different. The only unfortunate thing is that once God tells you to pursue your ambition, you are ordained by God to be whatever it is you want to be and the pursuit from there never ends. After all, God wants it to be.

This brings to mind a time when Oral Roberts, an American preacher, cried on TV telling people that God told him that he would call him home if he didn't raise $8 million and go to Israel to pray for them. I am sure, with nothing else to do, God thought of Oral Roberts and decided he was the chosen one and told him to go raise the money without a prior desire on Oral Roberts' part to raise $8 million.

On this real earth, at least at this time, there is nothing that shows that Nana Akufo-Addo will win against Mahama in the next election. Nana Akufo-Addo, after losing an election and a court case couldn't possibly think that he has a great chance of winning the next election. If anything I would think that those Mahama voters who were lukewarm towards him may be solidly for him now after the law suit. Nothing shows that Nana Addo has gained any new admirers after the law suit.

It is like a boxer who just lost a fight telling the guy who just beat him that he wants a re-match and that he will beat him next time. Often times the loser loses again in a re-match even though his ego continues to tell him he is a better fighter.

The sad part of this is that Ghana is at stake. I have fears that if NPP loses the 2016 election, Ghana may wind up a one party rule with NPP in permanent opposition. (Meaning I want NPP to win, for those of you who see partisanship in everything and may call me NDC). As an astute politician, Mr. Akufo-Addo must do a real assessment of the odds against him and do the honourable thing: step aside. Nana Akufo-Addo may not become a President but he could become a Statesman. Does he want his ambition to get in the way of that too?

Source: Tony Pobee-Mensah/ghanaweb