Ho, ho, ho! Never a dull moment in these our times of Bedlam!
Some may be bemused, some may see illegality, but I am rather amused! When the likes of Dan Botwe started sending out snippets about how if they had their way they would “advise the president” to drop the referendum, you did not have to be a political savant to immediately conclude that those were broad hints about what was afoot. This was buttressed by leaks from the Electoral Commission (EC) suggesting the entire process was being put on hold with word sent out to its operatives not to proceed with preparations towards the referendum and await further instructions. The instructions did come alright, not from the Commission but via a radio and television broadcast from Jubilee House on Sunday evening.
When the cancellation was announced in this radio and television broadcast, it was expected. What was not expected was the manner in which it was made, blaming others instead of accepting full or at least sharing blame! Was it due to the lack of knowledge of the constitutional implications of such an action or the panic mode that had set in when the “No” voice was showing signs of carrying the day?
Indeed, I have read learned legal commentaries pointing out that the Sunday evening speech had gone against many constitutional requirements and therefore the cancellation could be considered null and void, Would someone litigate this in the courts? Could there be grounds for parliament to step in?
The speech had the usual ring of arrogance and bravado about it papered with words and phrases like “U-turn”, “Broad consultations” “Consensus”, all the while with a scapegoating theme: Blame it on the NDC! At the time of writing, the NDC was providing its own response.
Since January 7 2017, I have followed with an increasing sense of outrage, the kind of arrogant strutting about in the name of an electoral mandate. I may even be so bold as to say impunity.
Earlier in the administration’s watch, a very large section of Ghanaian citizens complained about the stationing of US troops on their soil. In a televised speech like what took place on Sunday, instead of mollifying the hurt feelings of compatriots, the national television presidential address, dripping with self-righteous arrogance was used to lambast them, describing such citizens as hypocrites and anti-US. Very unfair, because in actual fact, Ghanaians in their generality are US lovers. There was neither broad consultation nor consensus…
Was there broad consultation and consensus when a very hardworking Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Charlotte Osei, after giving Ghana one of its best elections in which an opposition party dislodged an incumbent was dismissed from office to be replaced by a very openly partisan replacement, Madam Jean Mensa?
Was there broad consultation and consensus when a Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy was implemented without ample preparation and now threatening the future of generations of Ghanaian senior secondary school leavers with poor quality non-performing education?
Was there broad consultation and consensus when in the face of many existential problems facing the country and disapproval from large swathes of the Ghanaian populace, a Christocentric worship centre is being imposed on Ghana as a “National Cathedral” with the destruction of many fine government buildings for the purpose?
Flowing from the above, was there broad consultation and consensus when Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta provocatively declared the multi-faith, multi-cultural secular state of Ghana a Christian country? Was the Chief Imam consulted? Was the Nai Wulomo consulted? Were the Tindanba consulted? Were the keepers of the Golden Stool of Okomfo Anokye consulted?
Where was the broad consultation and consensus when our national holidays were tampered with to satisfy a sectarian agenda? And where has been the broad consultation and consensus in the attempt to rename national institutions to favour the same agenda?
And now, this referendum, after engaging the country’s energies for months and costing the economy unquantifiable amounts of money, is truncated just a few days ahead of the polls without accepting the responsibility that goes with this fiasco and it causing of financial loss to the State but is instead being blamed on a U-turn by a political party. Pure coping out! Too harsh a verdict, but appropriate!
I guess this is what really happened: Every government uses the intelligence agencies available to it to gather public opinion about policies and actions. In this case, the agencies must have reported their findings on the referendum indicating that the groundswell of opposition to the “Yes” vote was such that the “No” vote would carry the day. It is as simple as that. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo does no one any favour but himself because the results would have been seen as a referendum on him personally and the system he heads. Remember the countdown to December 2020 has just begun.
And finally, what is this about a U turn he was referring to in his speech? By cancelling the referendum which he proposed and canvassed for, what does he think he has done? Not a U-turn? Who am I to question people who claim they know everything?! That was a bigger U-turn. As my Ashanti in-laws would put it, “S3 wo soro bibi.”
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THANKS HARUNA..WHEN THE NDC CHANGED THEIR STAND ON THE MATTER , THEY SAY THEY ARE EVIL. THIS GUYS THINK THEY ARE MORE SENSIBLE THAN ALL OTHERS WHO DO NOT BELONG TO THEIR FOLD. THE QUESTION IS , WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE BALLOT PAPER? YES OR NO...IS NO IS EVIL, WHY THEN DID YOU PUT IT ON THE BALLOT PAPER, YOU WANT GHANAIAN TO MAKE A CHOICE, OTHERS SAY YES, OTHER SAY NO..THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THOSE WHO SAID NO ARE CALLED NAMES. 2020 I AM GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS SUPER INCOMPETENT GOVERNMENT FOR THEM TO CALL ME NAMES.
Huruna, you portray yourself as a tribal bigot. Use your coconut for things that will be beneficial to people, wherever you may find yourself. You have become clearly irrelevant in the scheme of things because you preach hatred. Some philosopher said, 'don't tell somebody you hate him, tell him you don't agree with him'. Hatred will destroy your self-esteem.
... Haruna Atta has of late become an example of 'tribalism and hatred' have combine to kill patriotism and excellence. Of course you choose to support whom you wish but such cynicism? So for you it was all about 'showing' your opponent! Shame for stooping so low ... and you have ever been an Ambassador! Ghana, oh Ghana ... the 'maadness' among the elite is disgusting! "Dwen ko kan"
Haruna Haruna,I know you are far better than this. Your mind is becoming warped.Broad consultations you say? I could name a dozen instances where your newfound love Mahama obviously in the interest of self and family did many things that hurt this nation.without consulting a fly.I will mention just one though. If a man 'dashes ' two thirds of a whole country's natural resource to his brother even at a time he knew he was leaving office without consulting even the agama lizard perched on his fence wall ,you call that what? Challotte Osei an excellent EC chairperson ?Oh please Enough of the hypocrisy.I understand you are pissed with the NPP because Aliu did not get the nod for presidential candidate.Have you forgotten that that process was open, transparent, and the majority carried the day ?Please if you choose to follow a character like John Mahama, all that will follow you will be derision and shame.
The hate and envy is too much . Some have their pens waiting for government to fail then jump and rejoice , Some are so bitter that they Wil go to their graves with it
Bitterness will kill Haruna. since former VP Aliu Mahama lost the flag bearer ship race to Nana Addo you have been nothing but bitter, to the extent that you decamped to go and support John Mahama on the basis of the fact that he is a northerner. please get a life as this bitterness is eating you. it shows in your writing as it leads you to ascribe arrogance and other adjectives where there is none. "atanfo nye3 nyame". enemies are not God
My goodness so Haruna did you read through this? So you think Charllote Osei should be made to stay when her own staff had petitioned her removal? Come on don't be emotional the free bies from Mahama has dried off so soon
Your write-up lacks substance. It is laced with nothing but pure mischief and propaganda. I thought you know better? Perhaps you should go and read parliamentary Hansard of 29th July 2019 you would probably understand what U-Turn means.
When you and your wife were jobless Nana gave you both jobs. An ungrateful being just because Alui was not made a candidate for NPP you have been so bitter to the extent of following another northner Mahama. Mahama made you ambassador. So you want him to come back to continue where you left free state money to chop. Get a life
hehehehehehhe so u still alive?