One reason why I am not particularly fond of establishment candidates is that, even though Ex-President J.J. Rawlings was just 32 years old with only a high school certificate, not rich, and had only 10 years of experience as a low-ranking soldier when he first became president of Ghana, he was an anti-establishment president who came to power through a military coup. He founded the most viable political party in the country and transitioned Ghana from prolonged military rule to a stable democracy.
Jerry John Rawlings transformed Ghana from a struggling, debt-ridden nation into a stable country with controlled inflation and fair pricing. He improved agriculture and expanded infrastructure, enhancing access to essential services like roads, schools, electricity, and clean water. His commitment to fighting corruption restored public trust and made Ghana a beacon of hope in West Africa. His achievements suggest that anyone with a superior education and have gone through the system should be able to deliver superior results but unfortunately, the opposite is happening.
South Korea transformed from a third-world to a first-world country in just 10 years. In contrast, Ghana has been led by H.E. John Mahama and H.E. Akuffo-Addo for the past 12 years, longer than a decade. Many believe that Akuffo-Addo’s presidency was a mistake for various reasons, a decision Ghanaians regret. Meanwhile, Mahama, who was voted out after one term, has been given another chance to redeem himself in 4 years; otherwise, he may be viewed similarly to Akuffo-Addo. If I were H.E John Mahama or any of his appointees anytime my heart would be beating and I’d have sleepless nights until I delivered knowing failure wouldn’t be accepted.
I took my time to go through the history of H.E. John Mahama to fully understand him. He completed his undergraduate degree at 25 years old and became a teacher by profession, teaching history in a secondary school. By age 30, he had earned his master’s degree. He worked for 5 years at the Japanese Embassy as a culture research officer and did some brief work with an NGO before becoming an MP at age 38. Since then, he has been a career politician, and he is now 66 years old. After reviewing his political career and video footage, it’s clear that his profile defines him as an establishment president.
Historically, establishment leaders often struggle to provide transformational leadership due to weaknesses that political elites can exploit. They tend to avoid challenging the status quo as they are products of the system, unlike non-establishment candidates. I closely examined H.E. John Mahama’s appointments, spending hours reviewing their profiles, education, and real-world experience. Although 95% of the ministers are also establishment candidates, different choices could have been made. For example, for the Minister of Health, I would have advised choosing Hon. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the MP for Essikado, if the choice had to be made from Parliament at all costs, etc…
One reason H.E. John Mahama must succeed at all costs is the potential consequences if he fails, especially since Ghanaians are already disillusioned with the political class. If he does not succeed, the NDC may not get a second chance, and both the NDC and NPP could face extinction. This could lead to the rise of a third force, with independent candidates dominating Parliament in the next election, or even a coup, which might not be peaceful. Such instability could suspend democracy in Ghana for a long time, creating ripple effects across other African countries.
My prayer is that anarchy never occurs in Ghana and that the country remains peaceful forever. Those of us closer to the grassroots understand the growing sentiment among the people; it’s boiling beneath the surface. If drastic measures aren’t taken to improve the economic situation, this anger could erupt organically. Many are frustrated that some of Akufo-Addo’s appointees continue to enjoy their positions and salaries, while others have been reappointed to even higher roles. People feel that H.E. is not addressing the need for a complete change. In between why would people vote for him if they want the same Akuffo-Addo appointees back in office?
For example, most Ghanaians would prefer Sir Samuel Esson Jonah as part of the council of elders as compared to Sophia Akuffo.
The Finance Ministry, hhhhmmm! Ghana needs to make one major decision now: to peg the Cedi against the dollar. Whether they should redenominate to make GHS 1.5 equal to $1 first before pegging or straight away as it is now at GHS 15 to $1, is a necessary decision that has to be made. Leaving the Cedi to compete with the dollar hasn’t worked and won’t work anytime soon. Ghana can only take off economically if we have a stable exchange rate for a long time, which can only be achieved through pegging as the last option. Pegging the Cedi to the dollar will also give real work to the Bank of Ghana to maintain the peg; right now, they aren’t doing much, and their competence isn’t being tested.
I love my country and I believe in the reset agenda 100% and this is written in the interest of my country, Ghana.
