TALKING DRUM: Nduom’s resilience, Ayariga’s temper & Akua Donkor’s ‘Concert Party!’

 

(From L-R) Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, Hassan Ayariga & Akua Donkor

It was painful and hard-to-bear the news of the Electoral Commission’s announcement of disqualifying 12 presidential candidates from contesting in the upcoming general elections.

Indeed, painful as being hit by ice pellets in a cold weather rain, the hearing of some names of these presidential candidates sent one asking ‘what could have gone wrong?’

Names like Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom and Dr. Edward Nasigiri Mahama of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), respectively, deprived a good number of Ghanaians the ability to ‘think far.’

These candidates have been in the political game for some time now and one therefore did not expect them to be booted out of what they do best. Old dogs, we are told, are not taught new skills but the good old saying seems to have seen the reverse this time round.

Reports were that, in Dr. Nduom’s disqualification, one subscriber named Richard Aseda (‘Asida’ on the Voters’ Register), with Voter ID no 7812003957) endorsed the forms in two different districts (pages 21 and 39).

“The subscriber was found to be on the Voter’s Register in one district, thereby, disqualifying his second subscription and reducing the total number of subscribers to below the minimum required by the Law.

The same subscriber (Richard Aseda (‘Asida’) endorsed the form with different signatures in both portions of the nomination form. This raises questions as to the legitimacy of one or both signatures,” wrote the Electoral Commission in a statement.

Reasons for disqualifying Dr. Mahama were also baffling, raising the question as to whether the Party’s executives acted with due diligence before submitting the forms.

“Many subscribers did not properly sign the forms,” said the EC.

“Thumbprints, signatures or marks were omitted all together. For instance, no signatures on Page 16, 24, 28.

Two subscribers to Dr. Mahama’s nominations also subscribed for another presidential candidate. These are: Abaako Issifu (page 103) Voter ID number 2988006876, PS code: J110202. Abudu Ayuba (page 95), Voter ID number 6303005554, PS code: H200201.”

The PNC, few weeks to their candidate being disqualified, had engaged itself in [internal] accusations and counteraccusations over Dr. Mahama’s alleged ineffectiveness.

Some of his party executives had blamed him for further sinking their ship by engrossing himself in his hospital duties to stepping out to campaign. Perhaps, this could have contributed to their current woes.

Interesting enough, almost all of the disqualified presidential candidates are heading to court to fight for their right. Former President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, was right when he said that “My concern is not whether you have failed or not. My concern, however, is whether you are content with your failure.”

Parties like the National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and Nduom’s PPP say they are not content with the EC tagging them as ‘failures.’ These parties have already filed their suits.

In all these agitations, one person among the lot gets me thinking that if he or his followers continue working with his level of enthusiasm, something good could come out of Ghana. That person is the Adwuma Wura.

If a spade will be called a spade and not a big spoon, then it can be said that the Progressive People’s Party, in its few years of existence, has lived to prove its relevance in the country’s political discourse. Not too long ago, politics in Ghana was all about the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.

Dr. Nduom and his team have reached out to Ghanaians with all the ideas and thinking that a nation needs to develop. On many occasions have people said they wish voting for him. However, such persons express fear of ‘wasting’ their votes since many of the NPP and NDC folks will not cut ties with their respective parties to vote for Nduom.

This, I believe, Dr. Nduom has heard himself. He will not be discouraged by it. He will fight on. And he will not just let the EC have a field day over his disqualification. He may not be president today but his resilience may get his party into power tomorrow when he has retired from active politics.

Indeed, he will battle his disqualification in court with former Attorney General, Ayikoi Otoo being his lead legal counsel.

For Mr. Hassan Ayariga, now the leader of the All People’s Congress, I thought he would be a little serious this time round.

In the previous general elections, he gained the accolade AyariCough for overly joking. Did he do it this time, too? Minutes after the EC disqualified him from the upcoming elections, Mr. Ayariga called the chairperson of the Electoral Commission as foolish.

"Madam Charlotte Osei herself is not qualified to be an EC leader. She's stupid and foolish," he is reported to have said in an interview with Emefa Apau, Class91.3FM on Monday, 10 October.

A potential president who does not respect women and cannot amicably seek redress over what he deems an affront on his right? SMH.

A company’s motto says that if it must be done, it must be done well. This is where political parties like [Madam] Akua Donkor’s Ghana Freedom Party and a chunk of others fell short. My concern is not whether she could speak English or not. Simply, if one does not know where he or she is going to such a person must not fail to tell where they are coming from.

From all indications, Akua Donkor could not tell Ghanaians which direction she was sailing. She could not shame her accusers who tagged her as a political joker.

According to the EC, she was disqualified partly because her Vice Presidential candidate provided her date of birth as October 15, 1998.

We need our would-be president to have a little bit of humour but if such humour surpasses the euphoria that characterized the then Key Soap Concert Party, then, the nation will be a cheap bowl for the world’s spit.

I know by now you may have tagged me as a PPP journalist. That I am on PPP’s payroll. If this is your thinking then I must as well let you know that I am not perturbed. I have been tagged an NPP in relation to some of my previous articles.

My philosophy in life is never to fail to appreciate that which is good. I wish the parties in court good luck. If things, however, do not go on well with them at the end of the day, Ghana wins.

The writer is a broadcast journalist with 3FM 92.7. Views expressed here solely remain his opinion and not that of his media organization.

Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Aniwaba