John Mahama and Charlotte Osei
There is no better option for headlining former President John Mahama’s ongoing bellicose posture against the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
His phobia for the lady is instructive. Perhaps we should not be too worried about his persistent fretting about the integrity of the next elections. The reason is not far-fetched: Charlotte Osei is not available to breach the standards in his favour. The fear of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer has to do with the new dawn of transparent elections in the country.
We are going into elections in which variations would not be made on the blind side of the political parties by an EC Chairperson. The resonation of the story about the near smuggling in of an electronic transmission mode for results has not abated.
For the past few months, the former President has not relented in his whining about a perceived possible manipulation of next year’s polls.
He has fallen short of telling us that he is able to read the mind of Jean Mensa’s manipulation plans for the polls. It sounds surreal that the former President should be entertaining such fears. As a former President, he should know better that manipulating Election 2020 is beyond Jean Mensa and the EC as a whole. Does he fear that can be done through an electronic transmission of results which he and his appointed EC Chairperson agreed upon?
What is this gibberish reference to an inclement posture of the EC Chairperson and even allowing the hallucinatory impression to cause him avoidable fear about the outcome of next year’s polls?
The former President’s fear could also be originating from the overwhelming scorecard of President Akufo-Addo who recently said that his feats so far would speak for him when Ghanaians go to cast their ballots next year.
If there is anything to talk about, an unusual security during Charlotte Osei’s days as Chairperson of the EC is unrivalled. We recall with trepidation the inconvenience caused both motorists and pedestrians when Charlotte went to Joy FM for a programme. The road was blocked by AK 47 wielding cops and remained so until the programme was over.
Jean Mensa is not riding in an armour-plated car as her predecessor did at the peak of her short but momentous tenure.
If the former President does not know this, let him do so now and avoid wasting our time with his tears. As a former President, he deserves deference but he must earn this through decent conduct on the political plane.
If security at the EC has appreciated it is because the NDC is yet to come off its evil ways even as it displays its past bloody and gangster with glee.
If he the former President is still unable to come to terms with an EC devoid of a Charlotte Osei, let him go to court. Perhaps like the EC, he does not have confidence in the judicial system to adjudicate fairly. Some phobias are nuisances.