The two dominant political parties are fighting to attract the favourable attention of Ghanaians.
Winning such favour requires the use of skills of communication underscored by sincerity.
It is a truism that former President John Mahama has been engaged in conflicting remarks, facts which have earned for him an unworthy description of being economical with the truth.
Of course he himself highlighted this when he said that during such highpoints of campaigning such as we are in now, politicians present cocktail of lies and truth to the electorates.
It is a sad observation about the former President which is not a worthy testimonial, which has compelled many to lump politicians as being the same bunch of liars, a far cry from the truth anyway.
We are happy to observe that politics as being played out by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is poles apart from the lies which the former President claims is allowed in politics in the run-up to elections.
We can only add that lies play a part only when politicians have nothing to offer and seek to hoodwink the electorates just so they can gain electorally.
Today, given the new trend in campaigning according to the NPP flagbearer’s rule book, without convincing policies, bad politicians will be exposed.
With the use of their fingers, Ghanaians are able to use technology to undertake reality checks in a jiffy and conclude whether or not politicians are being sincere or simply put, lying between their teeth.
Simple pedestrian promise of chicken and eggs or even the inexplicable 24-hour economy policies have no place in today’s complex world of which Ghana is a component.
Policies of mendaciousness will not hold sway in modern Ghana, which is why former President Mahama has had to imitate his NPP counterpart with the eleventh hour use of a ‘Bawumia It Is Possible campaign bus’ template.
If the former President has decided to now pick a leaf from the Bawumia template, he should do well to learn how to avoid lies and insults and to stick to policies too. These are more serious features of the man Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Unleashing attack dogs or boys with sharp teeth to pour invectives upon his opponent Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are counterproductive.
We have come a long way from the days of insults in politics, which is why this outmoded attribute in the political arsenal of NDC politics is not flying.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has not gone to India for any spiritual intervention to make his words sound sweet in the ears of Ghanaians. His appeal is latched upon sincerity and humility.
Wherever the former President is, we can bet that when he returns and decides to continue with his intermittent campaigns of insults, he would rivet his bad mouth upon the chiefs and clergy who have once more given Dr. Bawumia positive testimonials.
A political setting in which the opposition is so disorderly and mastered the art of disapproving of anything emanating from government so perfectly the military have had to state their sides of stories to steer away from the indecent features of the times where they do not belong.
Last week, we witnessed one of such rare rejoinders when a negative impression was being painted about the officers, men and women in the colours.
Why would the military after responding to orders to carry out missions at the House of Parliament be compelled to come out from their barracks with a ‘no that is not the story. We were acting upon a request from the Speaker to ensure the safety of the House.’
Had they not responded and shut up the NDC, the gullible would have ignorantly taken the nonsense hook, line and sinker that they had been ordered by the NPP to go and secure the House of Parliament.
That “NDC is one of the major challenges of Ghana” is a fact we cannot dispute.