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?Nobody ever did, or ever will escape the consequences of his choices??Alfred A. Montapert.
Four days hence, Dr Kwame Okro?s Asomdwekrom would be going to the polls to choose a leader and government to run the affairs of state for the next four years. Many of my compatriots have waited patiently for this day. Thanks to the Bearded Old Man above, the day is almost here with us.
As the day approaches, I wish to draw your attention to a few things we have to take into consideration before casting our ballot on December 7. The party or candidate we vote for can make or mar our future and that of generations unborn. It is the reason we should all reflect carefully before finally thumb-printing for a party or candidate.
The word ?vote? originates from the Latin word ?votum?, which means ?a vow or wish?. The party or candidate you vote for is the one you believe can make your wish become a reality. A vote is thus a covenant between you and the party or candidate of your choice. It is also giving your power to someone or a group to control the country?s resources on your behalf.
We therefore need to ask ourselves how the current government used the power we gave it in 2008. We fulfilled our promise by voting for the eagle-headed Umbrella, but did it fulfill its end of the bargain? Did the government reduce fuel prices drastically as it promised? Did it deliver the one-time health insurance premium it promised? Did it deliver a better or bitter Asomdwekrom? Did it stop the ?dumso-dumso? as it promised? Did it deliver the STX Housing project it promised? Did it manage the country?s resources judiciously or milked the country dry? Did it stop its employees from siphoning cowries from state coffers to sponsor a board chairman?s birthday? These and more are the questions we should ask ourselves before thumb-printing for a party or candidate.
Many friends and family members, both nuclear and extended, have called to ask who or which party they should vote for on December 7. My answer to them has always been this: Truthfully answer the above questions and you definitely will make a better choice.
I know my vote can make or mar my future that is why I will vote for my values and beliefs. By that I mean I will not vote for a president who is corrupt. Neither will I vote for one who will condone corruption of any form or magnitude. I will never vote for a president who will buy an aircraft at an inflated price and line his pocket with the difference at the expense of the state. I will not vote for a party which has the shameful record of using state cowries to buy chinchinga and pampers. I will not vote for a party which believes in using state cowries to drink tea; for doing so will give it the opportunity to continue splashing state cowries on cronies in the name of judgement debt. Not in my wildest dreams will I vote for a party with such despicable corrupt tendencies.
In other words, I will vote for an incorruptible leader whose 8-year record as Attorney-General and Foreign Minister is unblemished. I will give my vote to a party which promised oil and delivered; not a party which manufactured 1.7 million jobs in the comfort of its bedroom. I will thumbprint for a man who will judiciously use the state purse and distribute it equitably for the benefit of all and sundry. And which policy can better ensure the equitable distribution of the country?s oil proceeds than Nana Addo?s free SHS?
The cynics say the free SHS would fail. They desperately release one advert after the other to discredit it. Out of desperation, they shamelessly ignored the feelings of the victims and compared the free SHS policy to the collapsed Achimota Melcom building. Their only reason for kicking against the policy is that the country does not have enough schools.
True! But the simple question is; how many schools were in the three northern regions when Dr Kwame Okro introduced free education for the people of the north? Only one school, Abusuapanin. Yes, with only one school, Dr Okro started the policy and added more schools overtime. And did the policy not help produce presidents, vice-presidents and ministers of state? That is a visionary for you.
Dr Okro was a rooster, that was why he crowed when he saw the light. Similarly, Nana Addo is crowing because he has seen the light. His critics are mute because they are still in darkness. They cannot crow because they are not roosters. Let?s all therefore rally behind Nana Addo for real hope and visionary leadership. We should all remember that we are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of our own minds.
Certainly, there comes a time in a man?s life when he is faced with the difficulty of choosing among many alternatives. Whatever choice he makes has its advantages and disadvantages. In making his choice, he should be prepared to live with the consequences of his action; for every action, good or bad, has consequences.
Today, Asomdwekromanians are at the crossroads. We have the opportunity to choose between a corruptible and incorruptible leader. We have a choice between respect for religious leaders and disdain for them. We have to choose between prosperity for all and prosperity for a few. Blessed we shall be if we make a good choice; and misery becomes our lot if our choice is the wrong one.
May the Bearded Old Man above guide us to make the right choice in order to save this country from eternal damnation!
Shalom!
