Today’s heading was borrowed from a “TV Theatre” show I watched on GTV some three decades ago. The story was written and directed by the prolific writer and actor who responds to the name Kojo Damenya. I was then in my mid-teens but the show left an imprint on my memory.
The story was about a poor bloke who borrowed clothing, cars and a beautifully furnished flat in order to hoodwink a lady into believing he was well-to-do. The lady fell for his tricks only to later realise that he was living on borrowed glory. One can only imagine her disappointment!
It is, indeed, common nowadays to see people trying to impress others on social media with borrowed glory. The trend has extended to the political space.
That Mr. Dead-Goat is desperate for resurrection is a fact no one can deny. Making a u-turn on the Free SHS policy and the allowance of trainee teachers and nurses are two of the many examples that show the man is very ready to lick his sputum from the floor for a second chance at the presidential throne. But not in my wildest dream did I imagine he could try to ride on the back of the Free SHS for votes at the December polls.
Frankly, it will be an understatement to say I’m surprised. For a man who opposed the policy since 2008, sponsored more than 40 adverts against it in the 2016 election and still continues to question its essence, it is very shocking to see him make the claim that he started Free SHS.
How, where and when did that happen in this country? It is obvious Mr. Dead-Goat still deludes himself that we have very short memories. Otherwise, how could he have made such an absurd claim?
Time and again, we hear him saying he started a ‘progressively’ Free SHS programme. It is laughable because a progressively Free SHS that does not increase a single enrollment is tantamount to fetching water with a basket. The net effect is zero.
Come to think of it, we all know Mr. Dead-Goat’s rich father sent him up north to enjoy Dr. Kwame Okro’s free education. Were it the progressive kind that absorbed a measly GH¢42 a year, would his rich father had even bothered?
There is no denying the fact that Nana Dee’s Free SHS has preserved the dignity of parents and guardians who otherwise would have gone to beg or borrow from friends, relatives and politicians or sell personal items to pay school fees. Can same be said for the presumed progressively Free SHS?
Mr. Dead-Goat’s main criticism of Nana Dee’s Free SHS programme is the use of the innovative double track to contain the rising numbers in enrollment. But that criticism has no leg to stand on because any objective person would prefer having a child in a first class double track school to a single track day school in the middle of nowhere.
Without a doubt, even a political neophyte knows who between the two is trying desperately to ride on the back of borrowed glory. We all know the one who is passionate about the programme and the one who pretends. We saw and heard the one who complained bitterly about the budgeted GH¢2 billion for Free SHS in 2020. So we cannot be fooled by the pretense.
A friend made an interesting observation I will like to share with you. He said no one should begrudge Mr. Dead-Goat if he is hell-bent on claiming ownership of the Free SHS programme. We shall all see the real originator of the programme on December 7.
By the way, have you noticed Mr. Dead-Goat has suddenly regained his voice on corruption matters? Government Official One has suddenly been emboldened by Martin Amidu’s hallucinatory corruption allegations against the incorruptible Nana Dee.
Our elders say when the gods decide to keep silent, fools begin to think the gods are asleep. I would thus entreat all in the Elephant family to keep their silence on the bufoonery of the so-called Citizen Vigilante and allow him to wallow in his false sense of importance and pride. For a man whose house is on fire does not go chasing rats.
You see, the forest being on fire will not make the chameleon lose the dignified walking steps of its father. So Amidu’s rantings and baseless name-calling cannot tarnish the image of the trustworthy Nana Dee.
Indeed, Amidu isn’t a judge to pass judgment on people’s corruptibility or otherwise. Those who want to continue trusting Saint Amidu can do so. But we know better because the corrupt ones are those who shamelessly received Ford bribes and also have their names in court records as Government Official One.
We shall respond in equal measure after winning the December polls by the grace of the Bearded Old Man above. Then we shall show him that when a man defecates on his way up, he will be accosted by flies on his way down.
In the meantime, we have an election to win. So let’s spread the good works of the Nana Dee government and spare no effort in making the ‘four more to do more’ slogan a reality. For sure, this country deserves better than a dead-goat desperately seeking to resurrect. We cannot be fooled by those riding on the back of borrowed glory.
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!