Wontumi
We are sometimes baffled by the politics of hatred in our country, especially during the Fourth Republic.
Students of politics and governance always tell us about the essence of participatory democracy and the dividends in unity in diversity.
When in May 1992 we decided to endorse the Fourth Republican Constitution at a referendum, it was also an affirmation of multi- party democracy. Thus, there can be no homogeneity in our thoughts and actions.
In recent times for instance, the Jinapors belong to different political ideologies.
There is a lesson for all of us to learn to co-exist despite our diversity. This beauty of democracy is always missing in our part of the world. This scenario is playing out in this election year because certain people are desperate for power. We have always insisted that the people seeking our mandate to govern must necessarily tell us how they intend to use the power to improve our lives.
Some of these characters who have nothing to offer but lies and rhetoric resort to personal attacks. Another school of thought would argue that that strategy is part of politics. However, these are the people who give politics the bad name in other to give decent people to describe politics as a dirty game.
Also, during the run-up to Election 2024, those opposed to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have devised new campaign strategy, and that is to mobilise some hoodlums to hoot at their opponents.
Such characters are a threat to our participatory democracy and enemy of efforts to build a society in unity despite the heterogeneous nature of our country. Such characters should be named and shamed instead of applauded.
Yesterday, social media gained some traction because Chairman Wontumi, Ashanti Regional Chairman was booed by a section of Bonwire youth because they don’t back the NPP candidate in the Ejisu by-election slated for Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
These characters now support a one-time MP of the area, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, who until recently a leading member of the NPP, thinks the people of Ejisu must carry him shoulder high because all the projects in the constituency were undertaken personally by him. This man also had opportunity to serve as a Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways and he uses that honour done him by President Akufo-Addo to stab the NPP in the back.
Suddenly and strangely, he is parading Ejisu with the entitlement mentality. To Ejisu residents, we have only one appeal to make to you. And that is just do the departed MP, John Kumah an honour by voting for Lawyer Kwabena Boateng to build on the late MP’s legacy.
As for the renegade Aduomi, we should ask him why he is not standing on the ticket of Alan’s Butterfly Movement but as an independent candidate in cahoots with the NDC. Aduomi is aware that the Butterfly Movement is walking on legs made of clay and it would serve him better to seek refuge under the Umbrella. Owusu Aduomi like his master, Alan, joined forces with “enemies” of the NPP to derail the agenda to ‘break the eight’. And they want to start with Ejisu.
The battle line is drawn and Chairman Wontumi, Chairman Ntim and General Justin Frimpong Kodua must “descend” on Ejisu and take the campaign to every home. Every home is a beneficiary of the pragmatic policies of the Nana Akufo-Addo government such as the Free SHS.
That “gospel”, if preached well, would resonate on the electorate in Ejisu next Tuesday. Therefore,” besiege” the polling stations no matter your limitations to return the NPP candidate to Parliament, so that the change from John Kumah to Lawyer Kwabena Boateng would sustain the gains in Ejisu.
The independent candidate is the creation of the NDC and Alan, a ploy to distract the NPP to spend time on the propaganda of the NDC and lose concentration on the ball. The NPP must stay focused at Ejisu to win convincingly to end Aduomi’s political career.