Jean Mensa
Some decades ago, the legendary Azumah Nelson, the only Professor in the field of boxing had his own way of storming the boxing ring to face his opponents.
He did not worry about the venues for his fights across the globe. Azumah Nelson was never scared of his opponents and when Ghanaians had doubts about the fairness of his rematch with the tough and hard hitting Jeff Fenech in his backyard in far away Australia, the Professor had a simple response. And that was: he would go to the ring with a referee, just to assure his followers that he had trained so well that the venue should not be a source of worry.
The outcome of the rematch is history now as Azumah Nelson silenced the vociferous and partisan crowd to the bewilderment and shock of Jeff Fenech.
Some of the political parties are not learning from the boxing Professor by working hard to win the votes at the polling stations and stop blaming the umpire, in this case, the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission (EC).
The NDC, especially is behaving like the bad workman who always quarrels with his tools, and thus instead of working hard by coming out with the policies that align with the people’s expectations, the party’s leaders are blaming the EC to prepare the minds of the people that in case the party is defeated in the elections, it can shout on roof tops that the elections have been rigged.
We remind the political parties including John Mahama and his NDC to remember what former US President, Barack Obama told Ghana’s Parliament to ensure the building of strong institutions.
One of such institutions of course is the EC, which over the years especially under its current leadership stands as formidable independent entity.
The Chairperson has constantly said that it is impossible for the institution to rig elections. Indeed, so transparent is the EC today that it has churned out the ‘Let The Citizens Know’ series. This enables the Commission to engage the public through the media with a view to keeping all posted about developments in a spirit of transparency.
The IPAC platform is still in place, and here political parties are able to engage the Commission about their concerns pertaining to ensuring that free and fair elections are organised for the enrichment of our democracy.
The bad workman spirit which the NDC has continued to exhibit has planted in its leadership especially, mistrust for the institution.
It is amazing how they think that figures can be juggled in favour of one political party.
Perhaps there are some tricks which only the NDC leadership knows on how elections are rigged.
We wish to assure the NDC leadership if such tricks worked when the political grouping was in power, the situation is no longer tenable.
Let us get on with the building of strong institutions in the country and avoid this cacophonous situation which greets our country each time elections are around the corner with the NDC in opposition.
The country Ghana is bigger than the individual interests of the leadership of the NDC.
Majority of our compatriots prefer peace and would not allow those beating war drums to have their way. This we can assure the ilk of the NDC leadership.