John Mahama
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world” – Wang Wei, Chinese war hero
In the normal circumstances, one seizes the opportunity to expose a liar. If indeed, you know the person is a liar, you don’t hesitate to debate him, particularly if the liar invites you to a debate to prove that he is not a liar. It is absolutely absurd to shy away when such an opportunity comes your way.
In this part of the world, we take Presidential Debates for granted. It is not so in other jurisdictions where democracy reigns supreme. Only dictators with skeletons in their cupboards refuse to engage anyone in a debate because they know they will lose the debate since they will have nothing to show the reason why they usurped power. After all, who will such a dictator debate with since the opposition is gagged?
That is why J.J Rawlings never engaged anyone in a debate even when he shed his military uniform to contest the 1992 Presidential Election in a democratic dispensation. The man was afraid of his own shadows. He even refused to grant any interview to the local press.
The problem I have with the NDC and Mr. John Mahama for that matter is that, they have said so many things against the flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Bawumia, but when the person they accuse calls them for a debate, a certain palm wine tapper who is feeding fat on the political party he belongs to says John Mahama will not debate with a liar. Really?
And Mr. 24-Hour Economy seems to agree with the idiot who went to the Supreme Court, sat in the witness box with his idiotic face when his party petitioned the SC in the 2000 election results. Bring it on and stop insulting if you are a man! No wonder Socrates said that “when they know that they will lose the debate, they resort to insults.”
You see, during a Presidential Debate, the would-be voter is given the opportunity to know the temperament, composure, agility, knowledge, truthfulness, Intelligent Quotient (IQ) as well as the persons Emotional Quotient (EQ) etc.
Did you, my cherished reader listen to the Presidential Debate between President Biden and Trump of the US recently? The abysmal performance of President Biden made Americans to come to the conclusion that Joe Biden was not the right choice and that he could not continue to be the president of America after his four–year term ends.
The Democrats, his own political party realised that Biden was not fit to run and they voiced their displeasure openly. A few weeks later, Joe Biden stepped down as a candidate. Maybe Mr. Mahama has been following this scenario, hence his refusal to debate Dr. Bawumia.
I don’t want to believe Mr. Mahama is a coward because he has northern blood running through his veins. We, the northerners are brave, fearless, strong and unwavering. Our bravery is exhibited in the military where we love to belong to.
Remember the story of Sergeant Koliba Kanjaga of my holy village I told some ten years ago in this column? He was an ex–service man who took part in the Congo war. When we were children, we used to visit him to listen to his story and experience when he went to war in Congo.
One day he told us the following: “Walahi, the time wey we go to Congo war, when you hear tatatata, if ino bi Asante man, then ibi Kwawu man wey idey fire riffle. Idey run away be that. But when you hear bugudaam, bugudaam, if ino bi Mosi man, ibi Kanjaga, Gonja or Dagomba man wey idey fire artillery gun or machine gun inside enemy line. My pikins, as for Northerners we no de fear huu.”
Mr. Mahama should be like Sergeant Koliba. He must be ready to debate Dr. Bawumia to prove that, indeed he is a Gonja man, the great grandson of Ndewura Jakpa, the founder of the Gonja Kingdom who was not a coward. Running away will make him look like an Asante man or a Kwawu man. We want him to exchange fire with Dr. Bawumia by firing his artillery gun, that is, if he has any at all.
Mr. Mahama continues to tell whosoever cares to listen that Dr. Bawumia has mismanaged the economy as the head of the Economic Management Team, a position he also held as the former Vice President of Ghana and destroyed the economy which led to his embarrassing defeat at the polls in 2016. He says he will not promise Ghanaians but he will be truthful to Ghanaians, which is also a promise, anyway. But what is the truth?
Was he not the same man who promised a onetime payment of premium of the NHIS but failed woefully to keep his promise? Massa, stop talking about truth because you know pretty well that you are not a truthful person. Now that the IEA is preparing for the Presidential Debate, his handlers say their boss will never debate Bawumia. Does it stand to reason that if Bawumia drops out from the debate Mahama will debate the other presidential aspirants?
Interestingly, the Running Mate of Mr. Mahama, Professor Naana Jane Agyemang was the one who, together with Hon. Oppong Nkrumah led the onslaught when the IEA organised the Presidential Debate between Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr. John Mahama and two others during the 2012 Presidential Debate. Why is he afraid to debate Bawumia, a sitting Vice President? Maybe he has realised that he cannot withstand the smartness and dexterity of the Mamprusi whiz kid.
Readers will recall that during that debate, Hassan Ayariga, the Presidential Candidate of the PNC was hired by the NDC to disrupt Candidate Akufo-Addo anytime he, Nana Addo started to speak through insistence deliberate coughing. The late Mr. Rawlings called it “Ayaricough mixture”.
If indeed, Mr. Mahama will not debate Dr. Bawumia, then it means Professor Nana Jane, the Running Mate of Mr. Mahama too will not debate Napo, the Running Mate of Dr. Bawumia. Coincidentally, both Professor Naana and Napo were once ministers of education.
How joyous it will be to hear the two debating on free SHS! But should a whole professor who is seeking to become the Vice President of Ghana run away from debate? I am saddened by the turn of events.
The IEA should not cancel this debate simply because Mr. Mahama refuses to debate. We have other presidential candidates like Alan Kyerematen, Hassan Ayariga, Akua Donkor, Cheddar etc. On that day I will have to buy pampers to wear in addition to my underwear because I may wet my pants with urine through uncontrollable laughter when Akua Donkor takes her turn.
As for Cheddar, he will have to tell us how he will bring the sea to Kumasi and extend it further to the Northern Region where I have pitched my camp, ready with my fishing net to embark on a fishing expedition and thereafter, swim against the tidal waves!!! Full stop.
By Eric Bawah