I have followed him from a distance, and I honestly believe he has the x-factor we may need, but Ghanaians do not/ may not want.
What is it that keeps him out of the ring?
Let’s touch on 3 key things:
Personality/Reputation
There are those who say he’s a one-man-showboy who does not know how to work with others. My observations suggested, especially before his CPP exit, that he was more pragmatic than his Nkrumahist compatriots who were stuck on Nkrumahism and had not figured out how to translate Nkrumah’s ideology and their own big English into pragmatic action items. The action man in him got frustrated, methinks. I see the CPP in that light…fixated on the abstract, and not giving enough attention to pragmatics. I have heard someone say Nkrumah bulldozed his way in and took the glory for what the others had been working on for a while. Well, if you are going slo-mo, and he’s ready for action…then perhaps that’s what was needed to tip the scale.
Personally, when I gathered dissertation data at the DVLA and other public agencies, he was the Minister for Public Sector Reform at the time, and a lot of the positive change I saw was attributed to the work of his ministry (MPSR) – they had set up Client Service Unites (CSUs) in some MDAs, where service improvement and quick resolving of issues was the hallmark, and patrons were beginning to see the difference. That’s another story.
In the debates et cetera, he showed thought leadership, and I saw him as consistent. I guess what caught my attention was that he always seemed to hit on the most basic issues that the others never paid attention to – one key one being the need for a proper addressing system, and how that would in turn transform lending and access to finance, security services. It so resonated with my own thoughts.
Then also, he was the only one who seemed to think in terms of an ecosystem where manufacturing was key, and would be integrated in education and the service sector. Once again, it resonated a lot with me.
It’s the entrepreneur in him, I think, that thinks in terms of the details of execution, the way he does. I strongly believe that the lack of proper operations management is a key contributor to public sector inefficiencies, and it’s an entrepreneur, rather than an armchair politician (one who was born into armchair politics and has never had sleepless nights about how to manage an organization), who can understand that ecosystem which combines multiple factors – people, infrastructure, policies, systems etc. to make things work and achieve set goals.
He has tried to take steps to show that he’s not scared of declaring his assets, is ready to be unpopular to do the right thing, and even though EOCO snares crossed his path, he seems/seemed to have clean hands.
So why didn’t people think he was a viable choice? Our political party system does not allow smaller parties and independent candidates to thrive.
OUR POLITICAL PARTY-SYSTEM
In 2008, it was common to hear people say Nduom had good ideas but that they would be ‘wasting’ their vote [on him]. If people were to vote their ‘consciences’, rather than for ‘likely’ winners/contenders, he would enjoy more support, especially among young people.
Our current system burdens/afflicts us with 2 main parties to choose from, with the smaller parties, like some step-children living on the outside looking in. I don’t see how that will change anytime soon.
However, if people voted their consciences, then perhaps smaller parties would become the deal breakers and gain some leverage to swing votes. It is conscience-voting that has kept the Green Party in the US even on the radar screen. If for nothing at all, they have raised awareness about a green economy. They provide a space for kindred spirits to feel they have shown support, to a cause they believe in, even though they know they won’t win. Smaller parties should be looking to hook floating voters.
I’m all for multi-partisan, coalition governments with comprehensive representation. More on that later. On executive power that is basically sans limite and a weak parliament. I’d definitely like to see more independents…force people to focus on issues, not parties or people.
THE LACK OF HONED, IDEOLOGICAL STRAINS, AND LACK OF CLARIFIED PRAGMATISM
It’s hard to associate any of our political parties with any particular ideology. Yeah, yeah…there’s the latter day claim of labels such as ‘social democrats’ and ‘property-owning democrats’. Beyond manifestos that peddle promises, where do the parties stand philosophically?
These are important in guiding them towards pragmatic solutions.
Anyway…let me just post comments from an old blog post that addressed this issue, circa 2008:
“There are those who vote along tribal lines or out of a sense of loyalty to a political party because they have always voted for that party without thinking of what the party actually stands for. Sometimes, votes are cast out of a sense of obligation to political ‘benefactors’, from whom beneficiaries have received a fair share of palm-greasing, promised contracts, dropped charges etc. Where there is political ‘immaturity’, pettiness, personality cults etc. take over reason, and in 2012, I pray that we do not go down that path, but begin to force real issues onto the table so that we learn to finally vote our values and clear consciences, regardless of what winds and waves swirl around us.
“We do need to know what the candidates and their parties stand for. Perhaps it is more useful for us to have each party outline what they believe in, rather than only what they promise to do. Once I know your value system, then I know what you are likely to do when issues arise, rather than know the hollow promises you make me, and not know how you are likely to address problems.
“There are some questions I thought of 4 years ago, and I shall spill them out again. I would like to know where the parties stand philosophically on certain issues. I would challenge politicians, the media and the rest of us who make up the polity to present themselves to us considering the following:
Identity (core values, vision)
Stances on key issues
The size of government
The role of government in the economy
The role of the private sector in national development
How government raises revenue for national development
How to equip the public service to ‘serve’ efficiently, effectively and responsibly
National positions/roles in regional/continental diplomatic relationships (for e.g. the African Union, peacekeeping etc.)
Policies on foreign aid
The role of religion in national politics
The role and place of manufacturing and processing – industrialization in national development
The role and place of foreign investors and investment in Ghana
Land tenure system
Chieftaincy in contemporary politics
Education – priority areas, policies etc…
Health – universal insurance, specific strategies – prevention, policies etc
Rural versus Urban development
The role and place of infrastructural development and urban planning in national development
Campaign financing
Positions on managing diversity – fostering ethnic cooperation
Let’s get the conversations going – it’s time to start discussing the ISSUES and nothing less.
Let the people who dream of leading Oman Ghana on to Champion African Excellence arise and speak up on issues – we are eager and listening with ‘rrrrrapt’ attention.”
Back to 2015…
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By: Esi Ansah