A Failed Rebranding Project (1)

Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang

 

Last Wednesday, an event unfolded at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) auditorium during which the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) attempted to rebrand.

Since John Mahama was defeated in the 2016 polls and again in 2020 with the pair of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, whose rebranding was the purpose for the Wednesday’s event, the NDC has left no stone unturned to gain acceptability again.

Although, it has been struggling with what it intends to do differently, the NDC would not relent in its rescue mission agenda with the support of a section in academia, media and civil society. And already some commentators are competing amongst themselves to catch the eyes of John Mahama, Naana Jane and the NDC.

However, a general scrutiny of the speeches made at the NDC event indicates that the narratives were just rhetoric but empty on policy direction. We say so because beyond the “nice English”, the NDC failed to convince Ghanaians about how John Mahama hopes to navigate the difficult global challenges to achieve his “building Ghana together” mantra.

Former President Mahama is being haunted by his claim that Ghanaians have “short memories” and for which reason he has taken us for granted. He thus speaks as if he has never been President before and therefore, he can now be telling us to vote for him to attain his vision that “Ghana needs reset and inspiring leadership.”

Everybody desires an inspirational leadership and we should all hold our leaders to deliver to our satisfaction. We think that if any Ghanaian desires to reset Ghana or even remake our country the last person to advocate that should not be John Mahama whose record leaves a sour taste in the mouths of ordinary Ghanaians.

Hello John Mahama, please are you the same person who ruled Ghana from 2012 to 2016, during which Naana Jane was your Minister of Education? Under your watch, former President Mahama, Ghanaians endured about five years of dumsor leading to loss of livelihoods in every home. We wonder whether that is what you are bringing on board again by your request to the people to join you to rebuild Ghana together.

As if you have not inflicted so much pain on the people during your tenure as President, you are all over the place now again begging the people to rescue us. It is said that when you were Vice President, the President then, Professor John Evans Atta Mills ordered a probe into your conduct for procurement breaches.

Furthermore, your tenure was mired by other alleged malpractices such as the Ford Expedition scandal, “akonfem” rearing saga, tree planting in the north during the dry season, bus branding and exaggerated flyover projects.

We also know that the Airbus scandal allegation is still hanging around your neck like the sword of Damocles. Many things haunt our former President not just his short memories mantra. To regain acceptance on the political space again, let alone to be voted for to return to power, former President Mahama must purge himself of all the “sins” he committed against the people while he was in the saddle as Head of State.

If you were a Catholic, but we know you are a member of the Assemblies of God Church, we would have recommended that you go for penance or confession to assuage for bad governance practices and disrespect for the people. Now that you are seeking the mandate of the people to govern again, we want to know whether you would go to Kumasi?

Mr. Mahama, we hope you remember telling the Kumasi people that they are ingrates and even if you build roads with gold, they would hardly appreciate that gesture? The teacher trainees and nursing trainees you denied allowances are waiting to hear from you whether this election year, you are still convinced that your decision to cancel the allowances was prudent enough and you would put your desire to be President on the line for that decision?

 

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